Anonymous Donor Gives The Colorado Symphony $2 Million To Cover Salaries Through Summer

• Performing arts has been one of the hardest hits by the pandemic.
• An anonymous donor has given $2 million for the Colorado Symphony enough to pay its employees’ salaries and health insurance.
• With the funding, the Symphony also hopes to proceed with their plans of outdoor performances in summer, rehearsal and recording operations, among others.

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The pandemic has caused worldwide company shutdowns and employee furloughs.  In the United States, the nonprofit performing arts companies have been severely affected.  The Colorado Symphony is one of them.  But thanks to generous patrons of the arts, the company will be able to pay employees’ salaries and health insurance until summer 2021.

The Colorado Symphony has been fundraising to pay its staff and musicians.  In December 2020, it managed to raise $122,000 during the Colorado Gives Day; The Butler Family Fund of the Denver Foundation gave a $50,000 grant; Ticket donations “by generous patrons and subscribers from canceled concerts,” raised more than $150,000.  And then an anonymous donor gave $2 million.  Overall, the company raised a record $2.5 million.

Jerry Kern, CEO and chairman, said in a statement: “This significant donation will help maintain our operations as we continue to work toward the time when we can perform with audiences in Boettcher Concert Hall.”

The symphony hopes that their employees and musicians will continue to get paid as they implement their series of plans.  First is to open outdoors in summer and resume “a limited continuation of rehearsal and recording operations in Boettcher Concert Hall, without audiences, throughout winter and early spring 2021.”

Second, a performance to honor their music director Brett Mitchell for his four bright and engaging seasons with the orchestra before he leaves his post in June 2021.

At the start of the year, the symphony also extended the contract of resident conductor Australian Christopher Dragon for the 2023-2024 concert season. Dragon has been instrumental for the sold-out Flaming Lips album recordings in collaboration with music director Brett Mitchell. Dragon has also turned out to be a favorite for collaborations with pop and rock bands.

Dragon said in a statement that it has been an honor to be a part of the world-class Colorado Symphony. “I look forward to working with the tremendous musicians and staff of the organization moving forward as we look to come back stronger than ever as we resume pre-COVID-19 concert operations in Boettcher Concert Hall,” Dragon added.

Colorado Symphony’s leaders have also planned to present more live concerts this year.

Here’s hoping the symphony can realize all these plans as it has been able to raise more than $4 million. The proceeds from the appeal for funds has already allowed them to keep musicians and staff on call in the past 10 months, as well as virtual programming.

Source: Denver Post