Another Modesto company cancels live performances due to pandemic, makes other cuts
The Modesto Symphony Orchestra has canceled its live concerts through March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic has shut down all large live indoor gatherings in the state. That’s led to the closing through at least February of the Gallo Center for the Arts, where the symphony is a resident company.
In addition, the MSO has made cost-saving measures “that include the furlough of musicians and restructuring of staff and duties,” a press release said. “This resulted in the elimination of one full-time position, reductions in hours and compensation for three part-time staff and two full-time staff members including the CEO, who has taken a salary reduction.”
“Our long-term goal is to make sure we’re still a strong symphony when we return to the stage,” President and CEO Caroline Nickel said by phone.
This year marks the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Association’s 90th season. It also would have introduced five music director finalists in concerts to replace outgoing director David Lockington. The finalist concerts have been rescheduled to the 2021-22 season, according to the press release.
Nickel said the MSO seasons usually end the first week of June each year. “So should we have concerts in the Gallo Center, potentially we could have concerts in April and in May, but that depends on the situation.”
The MSO will continue to offer its monthly free virtual events “to stay connected with the community,” according to the release. Those events feature symphony musicians and guest artists in recital, as well as the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra.
For information about the symphony’s virtual events, see www.modestosymphony.org.
The Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra will continue its virtual rehearsals and concerts until it’s safe to resume in-person, the release said, but the MSO Chorus and Youth Chorus “are suspended until it is safe to meet and sing together in-person.”
The symphony has taken a financial hit without ticket revenue. Nickel said longtime sponsors and donors do continue to support the MSO. But total donations are not at their normal level, which she said was understandable given the entire community is facing difficulties.
Meanwhile, the MSO will continue to “look for other opportunities, venues, and scenarios for the community while keeping audiences, musicians, and staff safe,” the release said.
“Everything we’re doing is a new challenge,” Nickel said, “so there isn’t a road map to what to do in these situations.”
