Bellevue Phil: DEAD!

[Norm in Bellevue]

From the Bellevue Reporter

Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra’s board of directors has announced that the orchestra will cease operations by the end of July, 2011. After months of discussion and analysis, the board made this decision given the long term realities facing the organization. The board is announcing to patrons that the upcoming July 4 Concert in the Park at the Symetra Bellevue Family Fourth will be the 43-year-old orchestra’s finale. Season ticket subscriptions for the 2011-2012 season will not be processed and checks will be returned to our subscribers who have already submitted them.

Janis Wold, president of the board, noted, “We have made a great number of improvements to the operation and structure of Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra in recent years, resulting in an amazingly lean and efficient organization. However, decreases in available funding, debts incurred in prior years, and an increasingly competitive environment for households’ discretionary entertainment dollars have created very significant challenges. The organization is simply not sustainable due to lack of support by larger donors to create an endowment, as well as a shrinking subscriber base. As stewards of BPO this is extremely painful, but it is the right thing to do.“

The board would like to thank the artists and employees who have made many sacrifices and worked to support the orchestra in the face of increasing obstacles through the economic downturn. Many patrons have noted that the artistic quality continued to reach new heights in the past two seasons, and we cannot overstate our appreciation for the professionalism, personal generosity, and hard work exhibited by our musicians and our conductor, Michael Miropolsky. Bellevue Philharmonic’s subscribers and donors - individuals, corporations, local government, and foundations - have become valued partners over the past four decades, and they have our most sincere gratitude. Additionally, BPO has long enjoyed its relationship with Meydenbauer Center and other venues, and will always be appreciative of those partnerships.

It is the board’s hope that when Tateuchi Center (PACE) is completed, the orchestra may again play on the Eastside in a venue that will support us, both acoustically and in seating capacity. Our desire is for the fine classical music that has enthralled audiences over the years to return to this community. We hope that it will be enthusiastically embraced and supported by community members in a future incarnation. In the meantime, it is our wish that classical music will be kept alive on the Eastside with increased support to the many exceptional performing arts organizations, old and new, that continue to be based here.

[Bob Kolada]

****, I thought the title meant a person at first.

[rodgeman]

****, I thought the title meant a person at first.

Me too!

Still sad.

[Mark]

“We have made a great number of improvements to the operation and structure of Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra in recent years, resulting in an amazingly lean and efficient organization.

=

Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra’s board of directors has announced that the orchestra will cease operations by the end of July, 2011.

?

[The Big Ben]

“We have made a great number of improvements to the operation and structure of Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra in recent years, resulting in an amazingly lean and efficient organization.

=

Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra’s board of directors has announced that the orchestra will cease operations by the end of July, 2011.

?

Interpretation: "We tried hard but we are still going belly up."

[normrowe]

It does mention "debts incurred in prior years" and that is often difficult to overcome, especially when money is as tight as it is these days for so many individuals and families. When it's a thing of "Do we have dinner the next couple of days? Or do we go to the orchestra concert?" you can guess what most people will answer.

[averagejoe]

****, I thought the title meant a person at first.

poor, poor Phil.

[Alex C]

Prepare for more posts like this. We should just start a list.

[tbn.al]

Folks, we have to face the fact that our media driven society does not appreciate classical music. They won't invest the money or the time necessary to attend classical music venues in the numbers needed to support them. I am 65 and if I am lucky I will have orchestras to play in and listen to for my lifetime, but I fear that will not be the case for my violinist granddaughter. This not just a problem in the society at large either. My large, conservative, traditional church now has two services featuring rock/pop Christian praise bands and vocal groups. The traditonal classical choral music of the church is relegated to one service now, and I fear that service is on borrowed time. Face it folks, this music is unfortunately on the way out of our society and it breaks my heart.

[tubaforce]

Things aren't so good in the Pacific N.W. for music!
Enrollment in Schools is way down, and some smaller districts are dropping music all together! Let's hope this is cyclical, and bottoms out soon! Most schools don't offer or require Music Appreciation, and haven't for decades! I remember being in Art and Music App. as a 7th grader, as the two classes were required(1 quarter each) for non Band, Choir, and/or Art students! And my High School offered MUSIC THEORY 2 years later...Administrators seize any oppurtunity to trim Music, Art, and Drama, and slot Math, Science, and English that students in the past allready had plenty of! I believe the above to be main cause of the decline in demand for Classical Music venues! That and the "dumbing down" of Americans, aided in particular by PARENTS with no use for other than 3 chord Rock, Country, or Rap "Music"! The only "serious " music today's kids are exposed to is via movies, and TV! Parents just don't expose themselves or their kids to Opera, Broadway, Music in the Park, or attempt to cultivate any dversity in their listening!
I play in several fine groups in the S.W. Washington State area, and our #'s are down too, especially Clarinet and Trumpet players. The Music Department at the local College was recently endowed with a nice chunk of change by a wonderful couple who spent decades enjoying music together. Maybe BPO can find a Patron or two or three, or some sponsors? I like to think the worst is about over, so hold on!

Good luck,
Al

[termite]

What is the market like for classical music in Europe and the UK these days?
Does London still have four full time orchestras? Is there a higher level of appreciation of classical music in countries like Germany, France etc.

In Australia it's not only classical music which is in decline, rock is pretty stuffed as well.
Record companies are not interested in original rock bands anymore, they only pump out boy bands syncing lollipop music to backing tracks.
I don't think people really listen and get into rock the way they did back in the seventies. Nowadays people just have noise going in the background that doesn't mean anything to them. Any ability to distinguish between material with artistic merit and crap seems to being bred out of the human race.

Go to youtube and find any video of Earth Wind and Fire, Blood Sweat and Tears, Chicago, Led Zeppelin, etc and read the comments from the fifteen year olds who stumble acroos it and can't believe how good it is compared to what big business is marketing to their generation. The words "real music" come up every time.

I do have a gut feeling that classical music could benefit from some higher powered marketing with the aim of making going to concerts the "thing to do".
Most marketing I see is a bland notification that a concert is going to take place - it does nothing to give people a picture of what sort of experience they would have. Marketing needs to tell what people what's in it for them and give a solid reason to buy a ticket.
Why do classical brochures reproduce the performers resume and have a picture of them doing nothing. If you showed it to a marketing type they would say "why are you telling me all this stuff - why should I go to your concert?"

The other thing to remember is that classical music is often the opposite of pop music where you go "wow" the first time you hear a catchy tune and then get sick of it as you wear the tune out.
Large scale serious woks have to be learned - they might sound like noise on the first hearing but as you become familiar with the work you find bits you like and get a feel for what that piece is all about.

Most people I know who listen to classical music either had their parents playing it in the house while they were growing up or they got into it through the music they played in the school band/orchestra when they learnt an instrument at school. I know very few people who discovered it as an adult.
I can remember my father explaining pieces to me and pointing out the best bits as we listened to them. I do the same with my children.

I believe very strongly that the whole thing is worth educating people about so that it can continue. I have major problems with the "oh, well that's where market forces are going, just forget about it" school of thought.
Much as I hate social engineering I don't like the world being run by the lowest common denominator either, which is what tends to happen when the free market reigns supreme.

How to make a stuck in the mud classical audience (like what they know, know what they like) get into avant garde works - tell them it's movie music and put a picture into their minds. Piece not from a movie - make one up! - remember to refer to it as either a block buster or Cannes award winner.

If you want an audience in Melbourne just put on a last night of the proms concert - I'll be playing in one to an audience of over 700 in a few weeks - make sure you put everyone on a mailing list.


Regards

Gerard (listening to Grieg's Holberg Suite as I type this drivel - oops, Holberg's finished, I'm up to the Lark Acsending now).

[MartyNeilan]

What is the market like for classical music in Europe and the UK these days?
Does London still have four full time orchestras? Is there a higher level of appreciation of classical music in countries like Germany, France etc.

In Australia it's not only classical music which is in decline, rock is pretty stuffed as well.
Record companies are not interested in original rock bands anymore, they only pump out boy bands syncing lollipop music to backing tracks.
I don't think people really listen and get into rock the way they did back in the seventies. Nowadays people just have noise going in the background that doesn't mean anything to them. Any ability to distinguish between material with artistic merit and crap seems to being bred out of the human race.

Go to youtube and find any video of Earth Wind and Fire, Blood Sweat and Tears, Chicago, Led Zeppelin, etc and read the comments from the fifteen year olds who stumble acroos it and can't believe how good it is compared to what big business is marketing to their generation. The words "real music" come up every time.

I do have a gut feeling that classical music could benefit from some higher powered marketing with the aim of making going to concerts the "thing to do".
Most marketing I see is a bland notification that a concert is going to take place - it does nothing to give people a picture of what sort of experience they would have. Marketing needs to tell what people what's in it for them and give a solid reason to buy a ticket.
Why do classical brochures reproduce the performers resume and have a picture of them doing nothing. If you showed it to a marketing type they would say "why are you telling me all this stuff - why should I go to your concert?"

The other thing to remember is that classical music is often the opposite of pop music where you go "wow" the first time you hear a catchy tune and then get sick of it as you wear the tune out.
Large scale serious woks have to be learned - they might sound like noise on the first hearing but as you become familiar with the work you find bits you like and get a feel for what that piece is all about.

Most people I know who listen to classical music either had their parents playing it in the house while they were growing up or they got into it through the music they played in the school band/orchestra when they learnt an instrument at school. I know very few people who discovered it as an adult.
I can remember my father explaining pieces to me and pointing out the best bits as we listened to them. I do the same with my children.

I believe very strongly that the whole thing is worth educating people about so that it can continue. I have major problems with the "oh, well that's where market forces are going, just forget about it" school of thought.
Much as I hate social engineering I don't like the world being run by the lowest common denominator either, which is what tends to happen when the free market reigns supreme.

How to make a stuck in the mud classical audience (like what they know, know what they like) get into avant garde works - tell them it's movie music and put a picture into their minds. Piece not from a movie - make one up! - remember to refer to it as either a block buster or Cannes award winner.

If you want an audience in Melbourne just put on a last night of the proms concert - I'll be playing in one to an audience of over 700 in a few weeks - make sure you put everyone on a mailing list.


Regards

Gerard (listening to Grieg's Holberg Suite as I type this drivel - oops, Holberg's finished, I'm up to the Lark Acsending now).

+1 infinity.

[bort]

Not sure what the *sales* market is like for classical music, but when I've travelled in Germany and Austria, people generally seemed aware and receptive to classical music, and are very much interested in attending performances. Two quick anecdotes come to mind:

1) When I went to see the Berlin Philharmonic, it was a 100% packed house of *serious* listeners. I got chills not only from the extraordinary performance, but also the "we really care" environment of the audience.
2) Travelling in Tyrol, Austria, I played a few concerts outside of Innsbruck and a few other mountain towns in Austria. It felt like the whole town came out to watch, every concert was packed! And it was like a Tuesday night!

So at least in my experience in Germany and Austria, classical music *seemed to be* alive and well. Just another reason why I love it over there.

[Chriss2760]

The writing is on the wall, guys. Enjoy every moment you have making music. Our days are numbered. It is what it is.