Regina Symphony Orchestra cancels shows as ticket sales drop | 24CA News
Attendance is simply not what it was once for the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
“We planned what I considered to be an ambitious season,” mentioned musical director Gordan Gerrard. “I thought people would be excited to get out and start attending this again but we haven’t seen the numbers that we thought.”
The orchestra returned with a full season of reveals final September, one thing this system hasn’t supplied since earlier than the pandemic.
But the ensemble has seen an virtually 50 per cent decline in attendance in each season subscriptions and single ticket purchases.
For Gerrard, the massive query is: why?
“I think from what I can tell is people largely just got out of the habit of going out. There was a large time that we couldn’t go out and we had to stay home,” Gerrard mentioned.
Mix in inflation and an abundance of leisure choices, and the orchestra has been left trying to find solutions.
In order to assist get monetary savings, the orchestra has cancelled three reveals arising in April.
Season ticket holder David Hedlund mentioned the town not having an orchestra can be a horrible loss after having this system for over 100 years.
“I sure hope we can push through,” Hedlund mentioned. “We’re a small city with a full-size orchestra and I think throughout the whole history that has been a challenge.”
Gerrard mentioned the orchestra has been chatting with different colleagues throughout the nation for recommendation on the best way to transfer ahead.
“We are taking a hard look at what people want,” Gerrard mentioned, “what people are interested in and what we can offer responsibly from a financial side of things.”
The symphony plans to return in May with two reveals to complete its season.
Gerrard mentioned subsequent yr’s schedule is ready to launch within the coming months however will seemingly embrace fewer reveals than this yr.
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