Portland Symphony Orchestra Achieves Balanced Budget Following New Music Director's Inaugural Season

Organization successfully meets first benchmark in 3-year plan for sustainability

PORTLAND, Maine – After a challenging year that included budget cuts, layoffs and endowment losses, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) achieved a balanced budget for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2009, bolstered by record attendance at universally acclaimed performances during the inaugural season of Music Director Robert Moody. The first step for Maine's largest performing arts organization on its overall path to fiscal health, ending the year in the black represents a significant milestone, particularly during a period of extraordinary economic adversity.

Preliminary audit results, excluding one-time initiatives, show operating revenues of $2,806,000 and expenses of $2,799,000. The process of reaching the balanced budget required an extensive evaluation of the net impact for all operating activities, followed by the implementation of a mid-year contingency plan which reduced expenses from administration and artistic operations by $150,000.

This represents the first time that the PSO finished the year in the black following nine consecutive years of deficits. During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the PSO was also successful in paying off its $250,000 line of credit, leaving it with no bank debt. However, the PSO has sustained endowment losses resulting in a still-unhealthy ratio of a $2.5 million endowment to $2.4 million in operating expenses. The organization also needs to build sufficient cash reserves to cover current operations.

"It's been a true collaboration to reach this point," said executive director Ari Solotoff. "Each of the organization's stakeholders – musicians, Trustees, and staff – rallied behind the urgent need to 'get healthy.' We're certainly not out of the woods yet, but we are very proud to have achieved the first major benchmark in our three-year plan to restore fiscal health."

In March 2009, the Board of Trustees adopted a three-year Sustainability Plan and Bridge Initiative. The Plan is part of the PSO's new approach to producing quality core artistic experiences and education programs, while operating within known financial limitations. Bridge Initiative funding to date includes $704,000 in one-time gifts, grants and pledges, committed over three years, to restore cash reserves and allow the PSO to reinvest in its musicians, with 85% of gifts coming from individual donors.

Both public and private sectors have played a role in the PSO's progress towards sustainability, with diverse funders including corporations such as IDEXX Laboratories and organizations like the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Sam L. Cohen Foundation, and the Maine Arts Commission all contributing invaluable support. The PSO increasingly relies on private philanthropy, currently 45% of its operating revenues.

"We want to assure the community that we continue to take steps to preserve this cultural treasure for future generations," said PSO Board President Gordon Gayer. "This is welcome news, and we are grateful to our audiences and funders as we enter our 85th year. The Trustees also recognize that we're only in the first phase of the plan to become financially healthy, and we need the community to help us reach that goal."

Excitement around the inaugural season of Music Director Robert Moody resulted in an increase in both attendance and donations. The season was capped off by a sold-out Endowment Benefit Concert with internationally-renowned soprano Renée Fleming. Attendance at concerts increased over the previous year by 18%to 26,000, while ticket income increased 23% to $1.6 million. The number of donors increased by 8%, with a 5% increase in contributed income totaling $1.2 million.

Solotoff continued, "Last year was difficult for so many individuals and businesses. We were humbled by the response of the community and learned the immense value that orchestral music and live performances can have for people during challenging times. We still have more peaks to climb to make progress towards fiscal health and to invest in our musicians, who consistently perform at such extraordinary levels of artistry."

About the Portland Symphony Orchestra:
Serving the city of Portland, the state of Maine, and northern New England, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is the largest performing arts organization in Maine. With critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement, the PSO is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. Established in 1923, 2009-10 marks Music Director Robert Moody's second season, and the organization's 85th anniversary season. For more information about the PSO visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

Portland Symphony Orchestra Opens 85th Anniversary Season with Heroes and the American Dream, October 6

PORTLAND, Maine – For the opening of the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO)'s 85th anniversary season, PSO Music Director Robert Moody leads the orchestra along with actors from Portland Stage Company in a program titled "Heroes and the American Dream" on Tuesday, October 6 at Merrill Auditorium.

The concert opens with Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, "Eroica" (Italian for "heroic"), originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte but retitled after the former revolutionary, so admired by Beethoven, had himself declared emperor. The symphony itself is the true revolutionary, more structurally complex and sophisticated than any that had come before, and known for its display of a great range of emotion.

The second half of the program features the Maine premiere of Ellis Island: The Dream of America, by composer Peter Boyer. Innovative in its format, the work brings elements of the theatre and multimedia into the concert hall, employing seven actors from Portland Stage Company and projected historical images from the Ellis Island archives. The spoken texts for the work come from the Ellis Island Oral History Project, an historic collection of interviews with immigrants about their experiences coming to America. Boyer fashioned short monologues from the actual words of these immigrants, and wove them into an orchestral tapestry which frames and comments on their stories—by turns poignant, humorous, moving, and inspiring. The work concludes with a reading of the Emma Lazarus poem "The New Colossus" ("Give me your tired, your poor…"), providing an emotionally powerful ending to this celebration of our nation of immigrants.

Sponsored by Gorham Savings Bank, "Heroes and the American Dream" will take place at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street, at 7:30 PM. Tickets range from $20-$70 and are available through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to $6-per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 PM.

A Concert Conversation with Robert Moody and composer Peter Boyer precedes the performance at 6:15 PM and the concert will be followed by a PostConcert Q&A with the artists. A live recorded broadcast of the concert can be heard on Maine Public Broadcasting Network on Wednesday, October 21, 2009.

Audience members are also invited to attend Afterglow, a new afterparty at Restaurant Grace immediately following all Tuesday Classical performances. Patrons can mingle with the artists while supporting the PSO, as Restaurant Grace will donate a portion of the evening's proceeds to the PSO.

Students in grades 5 and up are invited to attend the open dress rehearsal on Monday, October 5 at 7:30 PM. Dress rehearsals are free, but space is limited and reservations are required. Email education@portlandsymphony.com or call (207) 773-6128 ext. 308 for more information.

The PSO's 2009-10 season is sponsored by IDEXX Laboratories. For complete season information, including artist biographies; program notes; and Online Insights, provided with support from season Enrichment Sponsor Fairpoint Communications; visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

Tickets Now on Sale for All 2009-10 Portland Symphony Orchestra 85th Anniversary Concerts

PORTLAND, Maine – All tickets for Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO)'s upcoming 85th anniversary season concerts are on sale beginning Tuesday, September 1 at noon. Tickets are available through PortTix at www.PortTix.com, by phone at (207) 842-0800 or by visiting PortTix in the lobby of Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street, Monday through Saturday noon to 6:00 PM.

To celebrate the PSO's 85th anniversary, its second season under the artistic leadership of Music Director Robert Moody, the season's programming features PSO commissions and collaborations with local arts and community organizations. Highlights include a season opening concert celebrating "Heroes and the American Dream" in collaboration with Portland Stage Company; the New England premiere of bluegrass virtuoso Chris Thile's Mandolin Concerto (Ad astra per alia porci); the Maine premiere of the Ford Made in America commission Chasing Light…; PSO Pops! concerts featuring cirque performers and local favorites Motor Booty Affair; and Maestro Moody leading two performances of Mahler's mighty Symphony No. 2, ("Resurrection") to close the season in May.

2009-10 also celebrates the PSO's 30th anniversary of the ever-popular Magic of Christmas beginning December 11. This production of Magic – led by Maestro Moody for the first time – will showcase the traditions, story, and true spirit of Christmas with scenes from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, a bigger-than-life adaptation of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol featuring imaginative and fanciful puppetry from Freeport's Figures of Speech Theatre, a music-and-dance portrayal of the Nativity – even a festive kickline of dancing Santas!

All concerts take place at Portland's Merrill Auditorium, located at 20 Myrtle Street. In addition to single tickets, subscriptions and other ticket packages are currently still available, with savings up to 25% off single ticket prices, plus exclusive benefits. Special pricing is often available for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. Contact PortTix for details.

For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

PSO Holds Series of Community Events for 2008-09 Season Finale

To celebrate the close of Robert Moody's inaugural season, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) showcases Rites and Rhythms, the season finale concert event, with a series of community events June 6 through 9. Saturday, June 6 – 4:30-6:00 p.m. Musically Speaking – Museum of African Culture, Portland The PSO will present a Musically Speaking event at the Museum of African Culture located at 13 Brown Street in Portland. Maestro Moody will speak about the Symphony's June 9 concert and why he chose that program to end the season. One of the PSO guest drummers for that concert, Mark Sunkett, will offer instrument demonstrations and speak about Senegalese drumming. Chief Oscar Mokeme, founder and director of the Museum of African Culture, will discuss the country and culture of Senegal. Musically Speaking is a series of insightful discussions with PSO artists in various venues throughout the community for all ages. The Museum of African Culture is a not-for-profit organization created to educate through the use of art, music, storytelling, films, poetry, literature, healing ceremonies and other Sub-Saharan African cultural traditions; to interpret and preserve a unique collection of African art and artifacts; and to enrich the communities of Maine and beyond through the celebration of diversity. This event is open to the public with a $5 suggested donation to the museum. Monday, June 8 – 10:00-11:00 a.m. Meet the Maestro/Meet the Musicians – King Middle School, Portland The PSO presents Meet the Maestro/Meet the Musicians at King Middle School, 92 Deering Avenue in Portland. Robert Moody and guest artists Mark Sunkett and Sonja Branch will give an in-school performance with instrument demonstrations and answer student questions. Maestro Moody will speak about the artists and the piece they, along with the PSO, will play at the open dress rehearsal that evening. King Middle School serves the most racially, ethnically, and economically diverse neighborhoods in the state of Maine. More than 120 of King's approximately 500 students speak 28 languages and come from 17 countries. Monday, June 8 – 7:30 p.m. Open Dress Rehearsal – Merrill Auditorium, Portland Students of all ages are invited to attend an open dress rehearsal for the Tuesday, June 9 season finale concert. For reservations, which are required, call (207) 773-6128 ext. 308 or email hklenow@portlandsymphony.com. Tuesday, June 9 – 7:30 p.m. PSO Season Finale Concert, "Rites and Rhythms" – Merrill Auditorium, Portland The PSO Rites and Rhythms concert will feature the virtuosity of the Portland Symphony Orchestra's members and a unique "sonic travelogue" uniting symphony orchestra with African drumming and dancing. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 at Merrill Auditorium (20 Myrtle St.) with a Concert Conversation led by Maestro Moody, Mark Sunkett and Oscar Mokeme at 6:15 p.m. A brief post-concert Q & A with Moody and Sunkett will immediately follow the concert. A radio broadcast of the performance can be heard on Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) on July 29 at 8:00 p.m. Rites and Rhythms is sponsored by JetBlue Airways and generously underwritten by Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Glickman. The PSO's performance of Sabar is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Tickets for the PSO Season Finale Concert range from $17-$65 and are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to $5-per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com

Portland Symphony Announces 2009-10 Season

Portland Symphony Orchestra Announces 2009-10
85th Anniversary Season, 30th Anniversary of Magic of Christmas

• Concerts include actors, dancers, and multimedia components
• Two programs with vocal soloists and full chorus
• Guest artists include Dame Evelyn Glennie, Yuja Wang, and mandolin phenom Chris Thile

PORTLAND, Maine – For the Portland Symphony Orchestra's 85th anniversary, Music Director Robert Moody guides Maine's premier orchestra through the 2009-10 concert season filled with traditional and new works of classical repertoire, internationally celebrated guest artists and an entertaining variety of Pops and contemporary musical offerings. The PSO's 2009-10 season is sponsored by IDEXX Laboratories.

Among the many guests visiting Merrill Auditorium are Dame Evelyn Glennie in her first PSO appearance in 15 years; mandolin legend Chris Thile; pianist Yuja Wang; Byron Stripling on trumpet; and vocalists Natalie Fagnan, Mary Phillips, Lisa Saffer, John McVeigh and Timothy Jones. Guest ensembles include members of the Portland Stage Company, Choral Art Society, Cirque de la Symphonie, and Maine's very own Motor Booty Affair. Guest conductors include Matthew Fritz, Conductor of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic's "Discovery" Series; Alfred Savia, Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic; Scott Terrell, Resident Conductor at Charleston Symphony; and Matthew Troy, Assistant Conductor at the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra.

The PSO performs two premieres: the New England premiere of Concerto for Mandolin, a new work by Chris Thile co-commissioned by the PSO; and the Maine premiere of Chasing Light… by Joseph Schwantner, part of Ford Made in America Consortium, a partnership program of the League of American Orchestras and Meet the Composer.

Music Director Robert Moody said, "Our commitment to the greatest masterworks in our repertory is unbending. At the same time, we are also exploring works which are not yet part of the canon, but perhaps will be one day. I will always try to pair music that might challenge us a bit with "tried and true" music from the repertory. Pairing Brett Dietz's Headcase with Ravel and Mozart is an example of that approach. None of us will be here in 100 years to know for sure which works survive and thrive, but it is an immense privilege, and great responsibility, to be part of that initial journey."

Another first for the PSO this year will be two performances of Mahler's Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection," which will close both the Tuesday Classical and Sunday Classical series. Executive Director Ari Solotoff explains: "Performing a work as powerful and momentous as Mahler's Resurrection Symphony is something that many orchestras aspire to. However it's a very expensive program, requiring chorus, soloists, and many more musicians than we usually have onstage. Having this program close both of our classical series makes it possible for more people to experience this incredible music. It is also a great example of the kind of efficient and strategic thinking we are using during these economically challenging times, as two performances of the same program can be more cost-effective than one."

"We've enjoyed 85 years of incredible music making with the PSO, but this year will be transformative," added Gordon Gayer, President of the PSO Board of Trustees. "At the same time the PSO continues to provide quality programming and educational activities in an economically sustainable way, our 2009-10 season promises to reinforce why the PSO is such an integral part of Portland's community and culture."

Music Director Moody adds, "I have always looked to music as an outlet and a celebration of all that life has to offer, especially during times of challenge. This season is all about experiences that are energetic, 'electric,' poignant, evolving, inspiring, entertaining, and moving. If we do our job right, people should still be recovering from the goose-bumps, and remembering this 85th anniversary season, for a long time to come."

Tuesday Classical:
Six concerts on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM

Tuesday, October 6, 2009: Heroes and the American Dream
Robert Moody, conductor
Actors from Portland Stage Company

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, "Eroica"
• Boyer: Ellis Island: The Dream of America

Celebrates the American immigrant experience and the American dream. Brings elements of theatre and multimedia into the concert hall, employing actors and projected historical images from the Ellis Island archives.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009: It Is Enough
Robert Moody, conductor
Charles Dimmick, violin

• Brahms: Academic Festival Overture
• Berg: Violin Concerto
• Sibelius: Symphony No. 2

Tuesday, February 16, 2010: Rach and Romance
Robert Moody, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano

• John Adams: The Chairman Dances
• Hanson: Symphony No. 2, "Romantic"
• Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2

Tuesday, March 9, 2010: Life, Death, Transfiguration
Robert Moody, conductor
Natalie Fagnan, soprano; John McVeigh, tenor; boy soprano tba
Choral Art Society

• Theofanidis: Rainbow Body
• Richard Strauss: Tod und Verklärung ("Death and Transfiguration")
• Andrew Lloyd Webber: Requiem

Tuesday, April 6, 2010: Sounds and Light
Alfred Savia, guest conductor
Evelyn Glennie, percussion
Sponsored by Verrill Dana, LLP

• Schwantner: Chasing Light… (Maine premiere)
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 8
• Masson: Snare drum Concerto
• Joe Duddell: Snowblind for solo percussion and strings
• Ravel: Bolero

The Portland Symphony PSO's performance of Joseph Schwantner's Chasing Light…is part of Ford Made in America, a partnership program of the League of American Orchestras and Meet The Composer.

Ford Made in America is made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company.

Major support is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional funding from The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Francis Goelet Charitable Lead Trusts, and The Amphion Foundation.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010: Mighty Mahler
Robert Moody, conductor
Lisa Saffer, soprano; Mary Phillips, mezzo soprano
Choral Art Society

• Mahler: Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection"

Sunday Classical:
Four concerts on Sundays at 2:30 PM

Sunday, November 8, 2009: Great Stories to Tell!
Robert Moody, conductor
Narrator, dancers tba

• Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite 1
• Mendelssohn: Selections from A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Stravinsky: L'histoire du Soldat ("A Soldier's Tale")

Sunday, January 24, 2010: Head and Heart
Robert Moody, conductor
Timothy Jones, baritone

• Ravel: Pavane pour une infante defunte ("Pavane for a dead princess")
• Mozart: Symphony No. 25, "Little G minor"
• Dietz: Headcase

A musical journey through a major stroke that the composer suffered when he was 29. Incorporates voice, electronic sounds, and projected images.

Sunday, March 28, 2010: Chris Thile in Concert with the PSO
Scott Terrell, guest conductor
Chris Thile, mandolin

• Copland: Appalachian Spring (Original Version)
• Schoenberg: Verklärte nacht ("Transfigured Night ")
• Thile: Concerto for Mandolin (PSO co-commission, New England premiere)

Sunday, May 2, 2010: Mighty Mahler
Robert Moody, conductor
Lisa Saffer, soprano; Mary Phillips, mezzo soprano
Choral Art Society

• Mahler: Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection"

PSO Pops!:
Four concerts on Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Four concerts on Sundays at 2:30 PM

October 24 - 25, 2009: Cirque de la Symphonie
Robert Moody, conductor
Sponsored by L.L. Bean

• Ring juggling, magic, contortionists, aerial artistry on silk fabrics etc. to dramatic light classical music (no amplification) like Bizet's Carmen, Khatchaturian Sabre Dance, Tchaikovsky Swan Lake. It's like Cirque du Soleil backed by a full symphony orchestra.

November 14 - 15, 2009: Tribute to Louis Armstrong
Matthew Fritz, guest conductor
Byron Stripling, trumpet and vocals
Sponsored by Holiday Inn By the Bay and New England Coffee

• Singing and playing in the legendary style of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, world-renowned trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling lights up the stage!

February 20 – 21, 2010: Isn't It Romantic?
Matthew Troy, guest conductor

• The most romantic love duets from Broadway shows throughout the ages.

April 24 - 25: Play that Funky Music, PSO!
Robert Moody, conductor
Motor Booty Affair, guest ensemble

• Is that Robert Moody in a white Saturday Night Fever leisure suit? PSO pays tribute to the music of the 70's.

Magic of Christmas:
Eleven performances
Sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets, IDEXX Laboratories, Northeast Delta Dental

December 11 – 20, 2009: 30th Anniversary Season
Robert Moody, conductor

• Celebrating 30 years of Magic! Guest artists and program details to be announced in May 2009.

Pricing and Ticket Information:

• Tuesday Classical subscription prices: $114 - $351
• Sunday Classical subscription prices: $52 - $168
• PSO Pops! subscription prices: $68 - $218
• Magic of Christmas ticket prices: $25 - $55

Special pricing is available for students, seniors, and groups of 10 or more.

Subscriptions and Magic of Christmas tickets now on sale. Single tickets for all series concerts on sale beginning September 1, 2009. Order through PortTix at 207-842-0800 or visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

Despite Successes, Portland Symphony Orchestra is Fighting for Survival

Despite Successes, Portland Symphony Orchestra is Fighting for Survival Safety net eradicated, Maine's largest performing arts organization is forced to confront immediate needs and develop a path to sustainability PORTLAND, Maine – In this inaugural year of Robert Moody's tenure as Music Director, and on the eve of its 85th anniversary season, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is experiencing record ticket sales, with attendance at Classical and Pops concerts at the highest levels in its history. Despite these successes, however, a combination of market downturn leading to decreased endowment value and years of producing community-oriented programs that operate at a loss has forced the PSO to make cutbacks in every area of the organization, including staff layoffs, reducing education programs and canceling the popular Independence Pops concerts. Music Director Robert Moody stated: "We are experiencing such an exciting time in the life of PSO, with tremendous energy and electricity coming from our wonderful musicians, and amazing support from our community. But these are challenging times, and we must rise to these challenges in a way that is true to our most basic mission of highest artistic quality and fiscal integrity. I am confident that we can come together as a community to provide a stronger foundation for our PSO, one of New England's foremost and prized cultural assets." The PSO's invested assets (also referred to as the endowment) have lost more than a third of their value since September 2008. A healthy orchestra has at least a three-to-one ratio of endowment to operating expenses. Even at the peak of the market in 2007 the PSO's was 1:1; now it is well below that. School budget freezes across the state have had a significant impact on the PSO's ability to provide the same level of education programming as in years past, and foundation grants for education are down 60% from last year. While the 2007-08 season ended with record levels of individual giving, so far this year over $108,000 has been lost through donors decreasing or withdrawing their past support, most citing the economy as their reason. Executive Director Ari Solotoff explained: "We have great artistic momentum and had taken steps before the financial fallout to reduce costs; however those actions are simply not sufficient to cover the gap between our expenses and our income, especially given our depleted endowment. We are facing a possible shortfall of over $220,000 this year, an untenable risk given that the PSO has incurred an accumulated deficit of almost $2 million over the past eight years. Even with these painful cost reductions, we could face more drastic cuts in the next three to six months." Board President Gordon Gayer added: "An organization's endowment is its safety net. You can spend the money, but there are consequences. In recent years we have drawn on our endowment to support programs like Independence Pops and KinderKonzerts. These programs have real value and benefit to the community but they do not pay for themselves. And now the stock market crunch has driven down our endowment to the point where it can no longer function as our financial safety net." Details of the cost savings measures are as follows: Independence Pops Canceled: • Has lost on average $65,000 each year; the PSO cannot sustain this loss in the current environment, despite a desire to present summer programming throughout southern Maine • Corporate sponsorships for Independence Pops are down by 65% since 2003 • Attendance is highly weather dependent and has declined over 50% in the past 5 years • Last year performed in four locations: Bridgton, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Sanford Administrative & Overhead Expenses Reduced: • Senior staff 10% pay cut effective February 1 • 20% workforce eliminated (2 positions); staff reorganized • Non revenue-generating budgets frozen or cut • Renegotiating fees and seeking in-kind services wherever possible Education Programs Reduced • Even before the economic downturn in October, PSO took steps to adjust KinderKonzert schedules in locations where the program expenses exceeded revenues. The Freeport site has been eliminated entirely, six other sites have fewer performances. Those sites are Center Conway, Portland (Reiche School), Shelburne, South Hiram, South Portland, and Waldoboro • Elimination of two performances of spring 2009 Youth Concerts, and adjusted repertoire for remaining concerts to require fewer musicians and lower music rental costs Canceling Side By Side program with Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra • This would have been the third year for this program which places the region's most talented young musicians on stage with PSO musicians • Funding applications to local foundations were rejected Artistic Expenses Reduced • Saved $40,000 by reducing production elements for Magic of Christmas 2008 • Orchestra will hold more rehearsals in Rehearsal Hall vs. on stage to reduce Merrill rental fees • Changing repertoire for March 24, 2009 Tuesday Classical concert to reduce number of extra musicians • Reducing the number of rehearsals for select concerts (reducing services and therefore income for musicians) • Seeking reduced guest artist fees for the remainder of the season Economic and Community Impact Maine's largest performing arts organization, the Portland Symphony has a $2.8 million budget. Taking both organizational and audience spending (such as parking, eating out before concerts, etc.) into account, the estimated economic impact of the PSO in Portland is $4.6 million, representing 16% of the total economic impact of the arts in Portland. (Source: Americans for the Arts "Arts and Economic Prosperity" survey and impact calculator.) With critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement, the PSO is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. Over 80,000 people are reached each year by PSO performances, including 30,000 schoolchildren through its educational programs. Thousands of tickets are also provided to social service agencies such as Portland West's Neighborhood Arts Access program. "Any attractive community places a very strong emphasis on the sustainability and growth of arts and culture, and the PSO is a cornerstone of the arts not just in Portland, but throughout the region. In fact, organizations like the PSO are critical to attracting a diverse workforce and growing business," said PSO Trustee Jonathan Ayers, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of IDEXX Laboratories. "I am particularly proud that the PSO makes it possible for Maine schools to have superb musicians available to teach our young people, and I am confident that the PSO will remain an integral part of our very special arts community." "The news that the PSO will not be performing their Independence Pops this summer at Fort Williams on July 4th weekend is tragic, but should not come as a surprise, " says Alex Fisher, Founder/Chairman of Planet Dog. "The increase in costs to put on a show of such magnitude has become cost prohibitive for organizations like the PSO." "Quality of life is a central element in Portland's continuing vitality. The PSO is a critical part of our region's cultural richness, and we are lucky to have the PSO adding their special magic to our community," states Christopher Hall, Senior Vice President of the Portland Regional Chamber. "It's also important to remember that the PSO contributes many millions of dollars a year in direct economic benefits to area employees, small businesses and non-profits. In short, the PSO is an important part of what makes our region thrive, both culturally and economically." Matt Jacobson, President/CEO, Maine & Company adds: "The strength of Maine's economy, and recovery from our current state, is dependent on the sustainability and growth of ALL sectors. And for the state's largest city, Portland, the arts and entertainment community is led by the Symphony. The PSO has been a cultural leader for our families and community. It's important that all Maine residents and business leaders realize the significant contributions the PSO has provided to the city and state for years, and how our individual and corporate support are needed to continue this great artistic treasure." "The Portland Symphony Orchestra is essential to the vitality and financial well-being of Portland," notes Richard Lucas, president, Maine District, KeyBank. "It is especially important to recognize the PSO's role in education and outreach to the youth of our community through their programming. There is a strong correlation between students involved in music and the likelihood of their attaining a higher level of education. We are truly fortunate to have access to live classical music, performed by professionals, in one of the most beautiful halls in the country – right in our own community. The importance of supporting this historical cultural institution cannot be underestimated." Brian Petrovek, Managing Owner/CEO, Portland Pirates: "A thriving arts and entertainment community is vital to the quality of life we enjoy in Portland, and the Symphony plays a key role in the artistic and cultural makeup of our city and our region. As we continue to support local businesses, restaurants, sports and other entertainment venues during these challenging times, we share an equally important responsibility to preserve this local treasure, which brings live music of the highest caliber to each of us, and to our children."

PSO Presents Tribute to Bygone Radio Days of the '40s, February 21-22

PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS A TRIBUTE TO VOCAL GROUPS AND BIG BAND MUSIC OF THE 1940s, FEBRUARY 21-22 PORTLAND, Maine – For a musical time capsule tribute to the bygone radio days of the 1940s, guest conductor Charlaes Latshaw leads the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and special guest ensemble "Five By Design" in a PSO POPS! retro concert production, "Radio Days." The concerts will be held at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street in Portland, Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 22 at 2:30 p.m. Paying tribute to the vocal groups and big bands of the 1940s, the PSO will be joined by "Five By Design," one of the nation's leading symphony pops artists and interpreters of the American popular song. The Minneapolis-based international touring artists' Kennedy Center debut with the National Symphony was heralded by the Washington Post as "one of the best pops programs of the season." Combining their signature harmonies with vintage fashions, stage and lighting design, and a captivating storyline, they'll perform music by the likes of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey with segments from vintage serials, comedies, and quiz shows. The PSO and Five By Design will be led by Guest Conductor Charles Latshaw, a vibrant and versatile young artist currently serving as Music Director of the Bloomington (Indiana) Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Conductor of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and Music Director of the Columbus Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Maestro Latshaw made his debut with the Indianapolis Symphony in March 2008, and will be making guest-conducting appearances in several cities across the United States during the 2008-09 season. The Saturday evening concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $17-$62 and are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. New this year, the website offers real-time online seat selection. Phone and internet orders are subject to $5-per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

PSO Opens Search for Next Designers' ShowHouse

PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OPENS SEARCH FOR NEXT SHOWHOUSE PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is opening the search for the next PSO Designers' ShowHouse. For three weeks during fall 2009 or summer 2010, the PSO will conduct its 13th Designers' ShowHouse, a fabulous fundraiser where the region's finest interior designers and artisans transform a house of historic or architectural interest, room by room. Greater Portland homeowners now have the opportunity to offer their home to be the next transformed for ShowHouse. With tours open to the public and special events including an opening night Preview Gala, ShowHouse draws extensive community and media attention. The PSO's leading fundraising event, ShowHouse generates as much as $80,000 to support the artistic and education programs of Maine's largest and most prominent performing arts organization. Greater Portland homeowners are invited to join the rich tradition that is ShowHouse. Interested homeowners should write 100 words or less about why their home would make a great ShowHouse, and mail along with photos and contact information to: PSO, P.O. Box 3573, Portland, ME 04104, or events@portlandsymphony.com. Designers' ShowHouse must be located in the greater Portland area, have ample parking on street or property, handicap accessibility considerations, landscaping possibilities, and a garage or other outlying building for a boutique. If the home is multi-level, there must be two staircases for ease of access and evacuation. The house would need to be vacated for approximately three months. A formal contract will be negotiated with the homeowner. For more information about the Portland Symphony Orchestra, visit portlandsymphony.com.

PSO Kinderkonzerts Present Tribute to Brass Instruments, 2/13 - 3/25

PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS KINDERKONZERT SERIES ON BRASS INSTRUMENTS BEGINNING FEBRUARY 13 Introducing young children to instrument families and musical concepts PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) kick off its second Kinderkonzert series of 2009 with "Brass: Blast Off!" The programs will travel to nine Southern Maine locations February 13 through March 25. The PSO Brass Quintet (trumpets, French horn, trombone and tuba) will take space explorers aged 3-7 on a journey to a galaxy far, far away to explore the stars and planets through music. The "Brass: Blast Off!" program opens on February 13 at Windham High School and then travels to eight other locations for a total of 23 performances. Kinderkonzerts are entertaining, interactive programs with Portland Symphony musicians where kids ages 3 - 7 can sing, dance, wiggle, clap, and have fun listening and learning about music and instruments. School systems can coordinate the Kinderkonzert visit with Science and English Language Arts instruction in addition to Visual and Performing Arts. Specially prepared worksheets designed to support Maine's Learning Results are available online or by contacting the PSO. Sponsored by Time Warner Cable, all Portland Symphony Orchestra Kinderkonzert tickets are $3 per person with advance reservation, $4 at the door (adult or child). For additional information, reservations and ticketing information visit www.portlandsymphony.com or call (207) 773-6128.

Renee Fleming Makes Her Maine Debut with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, February 17

PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH RENÉE FLEMING, FEBRUARY 17 Concert is PSO's first endowment benefit event and Fleming's Maine debut PORTLAND, Maine – At a once-in-a-lifetime event, superstar soprano Renée Fleming makes her Maine debut with the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO), honoring Robert Moody's inaugural season in an endowment benefit concert. The event will be held at Merrill Auditorium on Tuesday, February 17 at 7:30 p.m., with a Concert Conversation, in partnership with PORTopera, in the Rehearsal Hall at 6:15 p.m. One of the greatest sopranos of this, or any, era, Renée Fleming is at the peak of her powers. Her purity of tone, musical intelligence and grace allow her to excel on operatic stages and in orchestral settings, but it is in recital where her subtlest gifts shine through. With the PSO she will perform works from both the classical and popular repertoire including: Richard Strauss' Suite from Der Rosenkavalier and Four Last Songs, "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady, "Carousel Waltz" from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel, and more. Renée Fleming charms audiences with her performances throughout the world. Her voice has been described as "one of a kind, with a combination of incredible technical control, emotional vividness and presence, and sheer, incandescent beauty of sound." She performed as the soloist at New York's Metropolitan Opera's Opening Night Gala on September 22, 2008 and returns in Massenet's Thaïs and Dvořák's Rusalka. Later this season, she appears in La Traviata at London's Covent Garden. Illustrative of her stature, in the last year Fleming has launched her own fragrance, La Voce by Renée Fleming, and has even had a flower (The Renée Fleming Iris) and a dessert (La Diva Renée, by famed chef Daniel Boulud) named in her honor. A two-time Grammy winner, Fleming's most recent CD is Strauss: Four Last Songs, conducted by Christian Thielemann (2008). She is featured on the Metropolitan Opera's recording of Eugene Onegin which is currently under consideration for a 2009 Grammy. Her numerous awards include Sweden's Polar Prize (2008); the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur by the French government (2005); Honorary Membership in the Royal Academy of Music (2003); and a 2003 honorary doctorate from The Juilliard School, where she was also commencement speaker. This is the first time the PSO has held an endowment benefit concert. The PSO's endowment provides financial security for the PSO's concert and education activities, and acts as a safety net especially during fluctuations in the economic climate. "Though orchestras typically maintain a minimum 3:1 ratio of endowment to operating budget, the PSO's is less than 1:1, which makes this special event all the more significant," said Gordon Gayer, president of the Board of Trustees. "We are thrilled to welcome Renée Fleming for this special event, especially during Robert Moody's inaugural season, and are grateful to the patrons who are supporting the future of the PSO through their ticket purchases to this concert, as well as those who support the Symphony throughout the year." Serving the city of Portland, the state of Maine, and northern New England, the PSO is the largest performing arts organization in Maine. With critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement, the PSO is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. Tickets to An Evening with Renée Fleming range from $65 to $140 and are available through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. (Phone and internet orders are subject to $5 per ticket handling fee.) Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com. Full Program for An Evening With Renée Fleming Portland Symphony Orchestra – February 17, 2009 – 7:30 PM Suite from Der Rosenkavalier (Richard Strauss) Four Last Songs (Richard Strauss): These songs for soprano and orchestra were written in 1948, a year before Strauss' death at age 85. He never saw them performed. Ms. Fleming has recorded Four Last Songs twice and is well-known for her Strauss repertoire. Morgen (Morning) (Richard Strauss): Strauss composed "Morgen" as the final piece in a set of four songs in 1894. Known for his large-scale operas and tone poems, Strauss' lieder are examples of his genius for delicate intimacy as well. "Morgen" is filled with late romantic musical language but requires in performance the clarity and exquisite simplicity of any Mozart aria. A Letter from Sullivan Ballou (John Kander): By the composer of Cabaret and Chicago, the song is a story of a touching letter by a Union major expressing his love for his family and country before heading off to fight in the Civil War. Featured on Ken Burns' PBS documentary, The Civil War. "Carousel Waltz" from Carousel (Richard Rodgers) Two Rivers Medley (arranged by Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour): A blending of the songs Shenandoah and The Water is Wide. "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess (George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, Ira Gershwin) "So in Love" from Kiss Me Kate (Cole Porter) "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady (Alan Jay Lerner/Frederick Loewe)

PSO Kinderkonzert Series Presents "Woodwinds: Song Soup" January-May

PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS KINDERKONZERT SERIES ON WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS BEGINNING JANUARY 29 Introducing young children to instrument families and musical concepts PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) kick off its next Kinderkonzert series of the 2008-09 season with "Woodwinds: Song Soup." The programs will travel to seven Southern Maine and New Hampshire towns January 29 through May 26. For kids aged 3-7, host Laura Harris and the PSO Woodwind Quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and born) will demonstrate their secret recipe on how melody, rhythm, harmony and instruments make great ingredients for a tasty "Song Soup." Kids will learn how making beautiful music is quite similar to creating a delicious soup: each instrument or musical element adds its own individual richness of taste that creates the perfect final product. The "Woodwinds: Song Soup" program opens on January 29 at the C.K. Burns Elementary School in Saco and then travels to eight other locations in Maine and New Hampshire for a total of 18 performances. Kinderkonzerts are entertaining, interactive programs with Portland Symphony musicians where kids ages 3 - 7 can sing, dance, wiggle, clap, and have fun listening and learning about music and instruments. School systems can coordinate the Kinderkonzert visit with Science and English Language Arts instruction in addition to Visual and Performing Arts. Specially prepared worksheets designed to support Maine's Learning Results are available online or by contacting the PSO. Sponsored by Time Warner Cable, all Portland Symphony Orchestra Kinderkonzert tickets are $3 per person with advance reservation, $4 at the door (adult or child). For additional information, reservations and ticketing information visit www.portlandsymphony.com or call (207) 773-6128.

PSO Welcomes Acclaimed Guest Artists for All-Mozart Concert, Jan. 25th

PSO WELCOMES TWO ACCLAIMED GUEST ARTISTS FOR AN ALL-MOZART MATINEE CONCERT, JANUARY 25 PORTLAND, Maine – Critically acclaimed guest conductor Christian Knapp will lead the Portland Symphony Orchestra in the first Sunday Classical concert of the new year on January 25 at 2:30 PM in Merrill Auditorium. The "All-Mozart Matinee" celebrates the most popular classical composer of all time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, two days before his 253rd birthday. The program opens with the Overture to Don Giovanni, considered among Mozart's greatest works. The concert also includes the Clarinet Concerto in A Major (noted for its delicate interplay between soloist and orchestra); the Bach-inspired Adagio & Fugue, K. 546; the dark and serious Masonic Funeral Music (written in 1785 on the deaths of two of Mozart's Masonic lodge brothers); and Symphony No. 35 in D Major, "Haffner" (commissioned in 1782 by the Haffner family of Salzburg). Guest conductor Christian Knapp is equally at home whether he is conducting an all-Mozart concert or an internationally recognized touring opera company. Accomplished in multiple genres, he is also a committed proponent of new music. Maestro Knapp's talents keep him in high demand and he regularly performs in festivals and concerts throughout the world. The All-Mozart Matinee also features William Hudgins, principal clarinet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1994. Also a member of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Hudgins can be heard on the Grammy-nominated CD of Hindemith's Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano. He performed for seven seasons with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra (Charleston, SC) and the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy. The concert begins at 2:30 PM with a Concert Conversation at 1:15 PM in the Rehearsal Hall. A radio broadcast of the performance can be heard on Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) on February 11 at 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices for the January 25 concert range from $17 to $54, with special pricing available for students, seniors and groups. All Portland Symphony Orchestra tickets are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com, and new this year, the website offers real-time online seat selection. (Phone and internet orders subject to $5 per ticket handling fee.) Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.