Evening star., 1938-02-14
FUND
MUST Be RAISED
Orchestra Will Disband If
100000 Is Not Contrib.
uted, Says L. c. Strong.
(Story OF, page A-1.J

The National Symphony Orchestra
Association, under whose sponsorship
the National Symphony Orchestra Of
Washington has attained. national rec
ognition in its comparatively few
years existence. will be dkbanded
unless a sustaining fund OF not less
than 100000 is raised for the next
concert season.
This statement was made today by
L. Corrin Strong, campaign chairman
Of the association, in announcing the
fund-raising drive for the 1885
season will be held beginning Feb
ruary % and ending March 6.
Mr.. Strong fatty asserted that if the
$103. 900 necessary to meet the Or
chestra's requirements is not obtained
during that period, all contributions
will be returned. all pledges Cancelled,
the campaign closed and the present
orchestra association disbanded.
"Our board members" he explained,
"are deep in their convictions that II
the people Of Washington cannot give
sufficient financial support to provide
music OF the highest standard-to
enable the continued growth of the
orchestra which, under the inspired
direction of DR.. Hans Kinder. has
brought it into the front ranks Of
major symphony orchestras in this
country - the present association
should not continue with the sponsor
ship of the orchestra"
Curtailment Made in Past.
When quotas have not been reached
in the past, the personnel and the
programming for the season have
been curtailed to meet the amount
raised, Mr. Strong said. This results
in symphonic presentations consider
ably below the highest artistic plans,
he added.
The total operating budget Of the
1889 season has been set at STA
600, based on an orchestra Of 80 men,
giving the same number Of concerts
as are being given through this sea-
sons 23-week period.
OF this total budget, $4,000 is raised
through the sale of tickets and $4,000
comes to the orchestra from concerts
outside Of Washington, this amount
representing the net income from such
concerts after all incidental expenses
are paid. A special donation of q, 900
has been contributed to be used for
soloists' fees only.
The difference between the total
income from these three sources and
the estimated operating budget repre-
sents the amount of the sustaining
fund to be raised.
Smallest of Any Orchestra.
BY actual comparison, based on
seven years experience, the $4,000
budget is the smallest of that of any
major orchestra in the country, Mr..
Strong emphasized. Annual expenses
of other f1rst-class symphony orches-
tras run from sits, 900 to $624,000.
With tickets reasonably priced
some seats being obtainable for as
little as 37ia cents each when pur-
chased on season basis-attendanc
In Washington is higher than that of
most communities, including the cities
in which are located the three Oldest
symphony orchestras in America.
The largest single expense item on
the annual budget is for salaries Of
musicians and soloists, which total
$125 900, or 73 per cent of the entire
amount.
Plans for the campaign are now be-
ing completed, and the volunteer or
ganization responsible for the solicita-
tion of'subscription is being assembled.
Campaign headquarters donated for
use during the drive will be in the
Carlton Hotel.