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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, July 13, 2009

Orchestra fund push lags


By Loren Moreno
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Peter Shaindlin

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra wrapped up its Master Works season at the Blaisdell Concert Hall on May 11. The musicians have been unpaid for months.

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The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra is pushing forward with plans for its upcoming season despite being more than 14 weeks behind in paying its musicians and administrative staff, said Peter Shaindlin, chairman of the orchestra's board.

Three months into the new Hana Laulima fundraising campaign, Shaindlin said, the orchestra has raised about $430,000. But that's still not enough to cover the nearly $2 million in debt remaining from last season, he said.

"We're proud that we've raised close to half a million dollars in the last 90 days in the midst of the worst economic situation" in decades, said Shaindlin, who is also chief operating officer for the Halekulani Corp.

"The reality is, it only constitutes 15 percent of our target goal required to break even," he said.

For eight of the last 10 concerts last season, the orchestra played before sold-out crowds. Ticket sales, however, account for only 30 percent of the orchestra's revenue. The remaining 70 percent, or about $2.3 million, comes via private donations and grants.

While the orchestra has found itself in similar situations before — last season, an anonymous donor gave $1.175 million to cover seven of 11 weeks of unpaid wages — Shaindlin says the current financial situation "is very daunting. It's really on the edge."

The overdue payroll is beginning to take its toll on musicians, some of whom have left the Islands and others who are behind on mortgage payments.

"There's no news on when we're going to see that money, which represents about 40 to 45 percent of our entire salary for the entire year," said musicians representative Steve Dinion.

"The longer time goes on, it becomes harder and harder for musicians to stay here," Dinion said.

'AGAINST THE TIDE'

Over the past season, the orchestra lost about 12 musicians, four or five of whom left in the last few weeks, he said.

The orchestra has 64 full-time and 20 part-time musicians.

The pay lag has forced many musicians to work side jobs, move in with relatives, live off unemployment benefits for a while or even leave Hawai'i temporarily until the new season begins in September.

"We have musicians who have gotten second notices on their mortgages not being paid," he said.

The first concert of the 2009-2010 season is scheduled for Sept. 19. Shaindlin says the orchestra will move forward despite the current financial situation.

"We're swimming against the tide, making every vigorous effort to catch up and establish enough cash flow to go into the next season," Shaindlin said.

Fundraising has been slow over the summer, but several large donations and grants are expected soon. Some $90,000 is expected through a private estate gift. And an application for a National Endowment for the Arts grant is making its way through the approval process.

Warren Iwasa, a Makiki resident and concert-goer, said he's impressed with the musicians who continue to perform well despite the lack of pay.

"If you attended any of the recent concerts, they preformed splendidly. Getting 70 musicians to play so well under these conditions means they are a cultural treasure," Iwasa said.

Iwasa added that he's been "disappointed by the lack of a sense of urgency" in the orchestra board's fundraising efforts.