Quinte Symphony set to fold after 52 years

By Marc Venema

Joel Bootsma was already looking forward to auditioning for the Quinte Symphony even before his cross-country move from British Columbia to Belleville three years ago.

“Before we had even left our home there, I was all excited about being a part of a symphony so I had called ahead and said ‘can you use a violist?,’” Bootsma said. “It was one of the things I looked forward to before moving to Belleville.”

Now, Bootsma may be forced to play somewhere else, as the Quinte Symphony is set to fold after bringing music to the region for 52 years.

A statement on the symphony’s website blames financial deficit, bad economic times, and decreasing ticket sales.

Bootsma not only plays in the symphony, he is also a board member.

“We have just come to a point where we don’t see the orchestra as we know it, being able to continue,” Bootsma said. “It’s a mix of funding, it’s a mix of expenses to run the orchestra and dwindling audience members.”

However, next year’s season could still be saved if members, including musicians, subscribers, donors and patrons, challenge the decision at the annual general meeting coming in September.

The by-laws of the Quinte Symphony state: “The orchestra shall not be disbanded while 30 members in good standing are opposed to this course.”

“I’d love to see it continue, but I really believe that it can’t,” said Bootsma.

Ann Picket is the former president of the orchestra. She served for 16 years before resigning last spring. She is hoping that people stand up at the AGM and come up with a plan to save the symphony.

“I would hope the community says ‘we can’t let this go’ and other people would step up with a plan,” Picket said. “I always believe there’s hope.”

She said the symphony also faced uncertain times on a few occasions when she was still around.

“An orchestra is always on the edge,” she said. “One third of revenue comes from ticket sales and the rest has to be donated by sponsorship or private donations or fundraising.”

If the symphony is not saved at the AGM on September 16, members hope to have a free final farewell concert, which would most likely run on November 11.

“A chance for all of us, our faithful audience, and us as musicians to give us a chance to say goodbye to what has become dear to our hearts,” Bootsma said.

“The orchestra becomes a little bit of a big family to you because you spend quite intense time working on stuff together, so there’s a great deal of sadness to see it shut down.”

He admits that the musicians and fans won’t be going anywhere, meaning future projects could keep orchestral music in the Quinte region.

“I do believe that something will come to replace it,” Bootsma said. “We’d hope that somehow, another symphony orchestra can be put together that can operate on a shoestring budget, that would be the hope, it’s to be seen if we can pull that off.”

Member and cellist player Linda Minty said although she was saddened to hear the news, it was something that she saw coming.

“I was aware that the symphony was in financial distress,” Minty said.

“I’ve been here 14 years and it’s a shame because people want to make music and Quinte Symphony was a perfect place for professionals, amateurs, and young students,” she said. “It’s always a shame when a community loses a cultural institution like an orchestra.”