San Antonio Symphony News and Archive

Symphony payroll now 2 weeks behind




By Kristina Paledes

from the San Antonio Express News 5/1/98



San Antonio Symphony Executive Director David Schillhammer faced the music Thursday and told musicians and staff they would receive the 80 percent restitution from the April 15 payroll, but would not receive a penny from their April 30 paychecks this week.

Musicians were expecting 20 percent of the latest payroll this week and the remaining 80 percent later.

"The cash requirements for the 20 percent are not available at this time," Schillhammer said. "So now we are two weeks behind."

The symphony has been running a week behind its biweekly payroll since late February, when musicians and staff first received partial paychecks.

Schillhammer declined to comment about future income or about potential solutions to the symphony's ongoing financial crisis, except to discuss the reduced ticket price for the last three programs of the SBC Classical Series.

Remaining tickets to the May 9, 14, 16, 28 and 30 concerts are $7. The symphony has done a pack-the-house push in the past but only for its final concert of the season.

"We're like an airline," Schillhammer said. "Once the downbeat occurs, it still costs the same amount" (to put on a symphony concert).

"We're doing a pack-the-house for the last month. We know that the best way for the community to support the symphony is to attend a performance, and we encourage everyone in San Antonio to take advantage and attend some performances. Because once they do, they will love the organization. It's the most powerful tool of support that San Antonio can provide for this great orchestra."

Lee Hipp, chairman of the orchestra committee, said musicians remain supportive, but worried.

"Cautiously positive seems the best way to put it," he said. "The longer this goes on the more apprehensive people get about the ability of the orchestra management to accomplish pulling the payroll together. And without a major influence of cash, it's hard to see the end... where we'll get out of this cycle."

Musicians "are probably looking at other opportunities they ordinarily wouldn't and that's too bad for us," Hipp said.

In addition to the prospect of losing talented musicians, Hipp said the symphony's precarious situation affects the quality of musicians applying for open spots here.



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