Greed Killing the Arts

The Columbus Ohio symphony orchestra has closed it doors. The group posted a $1.3 million deficit last year and failed to balance this years budget of $12 million. The board and artist were at an impasse on cuts. Sounds like too many hands in the cookie jar. With 53 full time musicians on the pay roll the questions is where did all the money go. Even if they each earned 100k a year that is only half the budget. Average pay for professionals is less than 50k as any teacher can attest. Even with all the other cost in running a symphony it sounds like they have too much money. In larger cities budgets are considerably larger, but many of them are also living beyond their means. Columbus could revert to volunteers playing in the park to keep the tradition alive. But to have so much money and not be able to make it work.