San Antonio Symphony News and Archive

Symphony woes endure as payroll falls short again




by Kristina Paledes

from the San Antonio Express News 3/13/98



It's the same song, another verse, as the San Antonio Symphony again will fail to meet payroll today.

David Schillhammer, executive director, acknowledged that symphony staff and musicians again will only receive one-fifth of their pay.

"Unfortunately, only 20 percent of the payroll will be met for all of the symphony employees for the payroll period ending March 15, 1998," Schillhammer said in a prepared statement Thursday night.

The symphony paid only 20 percent of its payroll for the pay period ending March 1, making up the remaining 80 percent on March 6.

"As we calculate our inflows, ticket sales and fund raising, we expect full restitution for all employees by Friday, March 20."

"We thank the community for the support they have provided and with the community's continued support, we expect to come through this period whole," he said.

Asked if he expects this payroll shortfall to continue in a pattern until the end of the symphony's fiscal year, May 31, Schillhammer said: "It appears that we are approximately a week behind in our inflows. However, we look forward to continued support from the community in order to rectify this situation."

The symphony's subscription series renewal campaign is under way and proceeds go into the organization's coffers to flesh out the expenses for the remainder of the season. The symphony expects to end the season almost $1.5 million in the red.

"About the only comment I have is that the musicians remain committed to performing concerts and doing all we can to support the fund-raising efforts of the symphony's board and management," said Lee Hipp, chairman of the orchestra committee and symphony tubist.

Dr. Fernando Guerra, symphony board member, called the situation an "ongoing struggle."

"We continued to try very hard to cover those obligations as board members," he said.

Guerra assured the community of the board's commitment to finding a solution to the ongoing financial crisis.



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