Bellevue Philharmonic to Cease Operations by the End of July

The will hold its last concert on July 4 during the Concert in the Park, as it plans to cease operations by the end of July.

"This is a sad day for Bellevue and the Eastside," said Jennifer Robertson, a Bellevue councilwoman and a board member of the Philharmonic.

Robertson said that she hoped that large donors and subscribers would return to support the Philharmonic when the economy improves.

"It's a disappointing decision, but I'm hopeful that the Bellevue Philharmonic will play again."

The economy made it difficult for the orchestra to continue. Board president Janis Wold said in a press release that the decision was based on a shrinking subscriber base and debts incurred in recent years.

Wold also said in the press release that the board hoped that supporters could revive the Philharmonic when the proposed Tateuchi Center is built. Campaigners for that project--which had been called the Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE) until it was renamed after a $25 million donation from the Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi  Foundation--are raising $160 million for the center, which would put a 2,000-seat concert hall and 250-seat cabaret on Northeast 10th Street and 106th Avenue Northeast.

Robertson said that she hoped that people appreciated the good work of the musicans and music director Michael Miropolsky, and encouraged residents to hear the orchestra play before it goes quiet indefinitely.

"I am really hoping people will come out and enjoy their last performance at the Fourth of July Festival," she said.

Press release text:

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 4th 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.