US orchestra chief balances budget, gets married, resumes rehearsal

Quite a week for Marie-Helene Bernard, president of the St Louis Symphony Orchestra.

First she posts: On October 3, 2020, I married the love if my life, Douglas Copeland. It was a magical day.

Then she posts a balanced budget: The SLSO detailed the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on its 19/20 season: the SLSO had to cancel or postpone 59 performances between March and August. The resulting financial impact on the SLSO was a loss of $3.2 million in earned revenue for FY20. Despite thissignificant impact, the SLSO finished the 2020 fiscal year (ending August 31, 2020) with a balanced budget.

And finally, when most US orchestras are silent, it was back to work: It feels great to be making music in Powell Hall again with Music Director Stéphane Denève! Rehearsals began today for the first in-person concerts at the hall this fall. Stéphane conducts works by Beethoven and New York-based composer Jessie Montgomery.