Symphony hits high note

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Mar 21, 2003 by Yunich, Rob

SYRACUSE - The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is making a brand new start in New York City.

"They'll be "king of the hill [and] top of the heap," as the song goes, when they perform at world-renowned Carnegie Hall April 5.

The SSO has spent the last four years re-establishing itself in the orchestra community - and now has an opportunity to showcase itself on the grand stage.

"We had talked about what we'd like to do as an orchestra to really show Central New York that we have a world-class orchestra, and there's not a better place to perform on the world stage than Carnegie Hall," says Jeffry J. Comanici, the SSO's executive director.

According to Comanici, nearly 1,400 people from Central New York are planning to attend the event. Syracuse University and Le Moyne College are coordinating alumni nights at the concert; Welch Allyn, Inc. is planning a trip for its employees; and two busloads of people are traveling from Watertown.

"In general [to perform at Carnegie Hall], you've got to have something to say artistically,"

says Jack McAuliffe, vice president of the American Symphony Orchestra League which serves more than 1,800 symphony, chamber, youth, and collegiate orchestras across the country. "You have to be artistically unique in some way, because Carnegie Hall has the option of really presenting the best of the best."

An 82-member orchestra will grace the stage, while SSO Music Director Daniel Hege conducts and pianist Stanislav Ioudenitch. makes his Carnegie Hall debut. The SSO last performed at Carnegie Hall nearly 25 years ago.

Ioudenitch will play Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, and the SSO will perform Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5 and Stravinsky's "Scherzo A la russe."

Long climb

Comanici joined the SSO in the fall of 1999 - just after the orchestra had balanced the budget for the first time in many years for the 1998-99 season - but was still facing a large operating deficit. At its largest, the deficit reached $1 million, but now sits just under $400,000. The SSO just balanced its' fourth consecutive budget.

"We've been really trying to approach the business side of the symphony as a business," says Comanici, who started his current position on Aug. 21, 2002. "We've gone out to get many more individuals, businesses, and foundations to support the orchestra, to really show the value of having a world-class symphony in our hometown."

That approach helped the SSO bring in $5.4 million in revenue last year, Comanici says, while the annual budget is approximately $5.5 million. To achieve a balanced budget last year and ensure that there would be a surplus, Comanici says the SSO saved money on salaries by allowing vacant administrative positions to remain empty. Other keys to the current success, Comanici says, include Hege's appointment as music director in 1999 and a labor agreement with the 75 full-time musicians for an unprecedented five years.

"It's a very challenging economy and it's impressive that Syracuse values the orchestra," McAuliffe says. "Orchestras have to earn that [respect] artistically and in every other way."

Because of the current tight American economy, raising money remains difficult.

"We're facing the same economic is sues that other businesses and organizations are facing," Comanici says. "While we've accomplished much the last few years, we still have a lot more to do. We still need to eliminate all of our debt ... In a tough economy, it's difficult for many people to donate."

"The challenge they're facing is that almost all of their revenue sources are challenged right now," says McAuliffe, who has worked in his current position for 10 years. "It's hard to talk about the arts in just a business sense because it really is an art. If you don't do things right artistically, you won't thrive and you won't do well [financially]."

And that is where the SSO has been able to attract people to concerts.

"The symphony orchestra is really a barometer for the health of the community and the arts," Comanici says. "As the largest performing arts group in Central New York, we help attract businesses to Central New York.

"On a typical weekend, we'll bring anywhere from 3,000 or 4,000 people downtown to hear a performance, and we approach companies with the standpoint of 'these are the audience members that

you want to be involved with' and that supporting the symphony is really giving back to your community," he adds.

Full schedule

Leading into the Carnegie Hall performance, the SSO will perform three "Carnegie Bound!" shows featuring Ioudenitch. One show will be performed at the Dulles- State Office Building Auditorium in Watertown March 27, while the group will perform at the CrouseHinds Concert Theater in the Mulroy Civic Center at Oncenter in Syracuse March 28-29. The SSO also regularly performs at Cortland High School and Rome Free Academy.

Ioudenitch. is one of the many guest performers who join the SSO on a regular basis. Olga Kern, who along with Ioudenitch. won gold medals at the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, performed with the SSO March 21-22. The competition, held every four years in Fort Worth, Texas, brings together about 30 musicians from around the world to showcase their talents. The next one will be held May 20-June 5, 2005.