The day the music didn't die in Bellevue
BELLEVUE, Wash. -- The recession almost silenced a Bellevue tradition.
The Bellevue Philharmonic was close to folding until it turned to the city to save the symphony.
The philharmonic says it could sell out all 410 seats in the Meydenbauer Convention Center and still lose money. It needs donations to survive.
This week, the city saved the music.
Just weeks ago, it sounded like the Bellevue Philharmonic had played its final concert. It was a close call -- too close, according to board president Dale Miller.
"Closer than I would like," he said. "But we will be here with our 42nd year next year."
When the economy hit a sour note, Miller said, donations went flat. The philharmonic couldn't pay the musicians until it pulled some strings, reassured past donors and turned to the Bellevue City Council.
The city responded with a check for $35,000.
"I think it says that we really care about the community and we recognize that it takes a lot of different elements to create a whole, vibrant community," said Mary Pat Byrne of the Bellevue Arts Commission.
Byrne said the art commission led the charge to save the philharmonic because it provides more than music. Musicians perform for public schools and concerts bring in money for the city.
"Every Fourth of July, 60,000 people pack the Bellevue City Park. And without the philharmonic, that tradition was in jeopardy," she said. "We had to look at the possibility that the organization might go away."
The musicians also stepped up and agreed to play a free concert this Sunday at First Presbyterian Church. All of the money raised will keep the philharmonic humming until the economy crescendos.
"So we're going to be very active in trying to find some money and private donors to support what we do," said Miller.
For now, it's $35,000 from the city. That means music won't have to take a final bow in Bellevue.
The philharmonic says it's also cleaning up its books and looking for a new executive director to make sure donations are well-spent.
The free concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Bellevue.
The Bellevue Philharmonic was close to folding until it turned to the city to save the symphony.
The philharmonic says it could sell out all 410 seats in the Meydenbauer Convention Center and still lose money. It needs donations to survive.
This week, the city saved the music.
Just weeks ago, it sounded like the Bellevue Philharmonic had played its final concert. It was a close call -- too close, according to board president Dale Miller.
"Closer than I would like," he said. "But we will be here with our 42nd year next year."
When the economy hit a sour note, Miller said, donations went flat. The philharmonic couldn't pay the musicians until it pulled some strings, reassured past donors and turned to the Bellevue City Council.
The city responded with a check for $35,000.
"I think it says that we really care about the community and we recognize that it takes a lot of different elements to create a whole, vibrant community," said Mary Pat Byrne of the Bellevue Arts Commission.
Byrne said the art commission led the charge to save the philharmonic because it provides more than music. Musicians perform for public schools and concerts bring in money for the city.
"Every Fourth of July, 60,000 people pack the Bellevue City Park. And without the philharmonic, that tradition was in jeopardy," she said. "We had to look at the possibility that the organization might go away."
The musicians also stepped up and agreed to play a free concert this Sunday at First Presbyterian Church. All of the money raised will keep the philharmonic humming until the economy crescendos.
"So we're going to be very active in trying to find some money and private donors to support what we do," said Miller.
For now, it's $35,000 from the city. That means music won't have to take a final bow in Bellevue.
The philharmonic says it's also cleaning up its books and looking for a new executive director to make sure donations are well-spent.
The free concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Bellevue.