UPDATED: January 30, 2012, 9:53 p.m.

CORRECTION: In this article, the month the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra declared bankruptcy was misstated. The SSO filed for bankruptcy in May 2011. 

Plans to create the Syracuse Philharmonic, an effort supported by Syracuse University to restore a professional symphony to the city, have fallen through.

Half of the six-member Syracuse Philharmonic board left in December, the Post-Standard reported Thursday. The remaining board members decided to discontinue plans for the Philharmonic after Ann Clarke, one of the departed board members and dean of SU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, announced Wednesday that the university is planning to back another effort to form a symphony led by former board member Robert Daino, according to the article.

Clarke issued a statement signed by herself, Daino and Andy Russo, the third board member who left, citing philosophical and strategic differences that led to the parting.

‘While we have left the Syracuse Philharmonic board, we have not resigned from our commitment to, and goal of utilizing our energies, talents, and relationships to ensure that this region regains the valuable asset of symphonic music,’ the statement read.

An additional request for comment was not returned by Clarke.

Symphony Syracuse, an orchestra formed after the 50-year-old Syracuse Symphony Orchestra declared bankruptcy in May 2011, has been critical of the plan to create the Philharmonic.

In an open letter dated Sept. 12, 2011, Jon Garland, chairman of the Symphony Syracuse Foundation, stated the Philharmonic did not involve former members of the SSO in planning. The five-year timetable would also prevent musicians from entering the picture until the three-year mark, Garland stated in the letter posted to the organization’s website.

‘While there are some positive aspects of the proposed plan, there are areas of serious concern as well,’ the letter read. ‘As a practical matter, the musicians are unlikely to be able to survive in our community for two years with no guaranteed minimum salary, and possibly no benefits.’

These differences led the organizations to compete for financing and supporters, according to The Post-Standard article.

Garland could not be reached for comment.

Both the city of Syracuse and members of the SU community have worked toward forming a new orchestral symphony since the SSO’s closing in May 2011. The bankruptcy ended the half-decade-old orchestra, leaving musicians without jobs and many searching for a new outlet for orchestral music.

SU has been involved with efforts to help a professional orchestra return to the city of Syracuse. Patrick Jones, director of the Setnor School of Music, said the newly formed Center for Live Music in the 21st Century will continue to work with music organizations and the like to help develop strategies for the business side of operating an arts organization. The Philharmonic was a client with the center.

Symphony Syracuse has not requested to work with the center, but it has borrowed sheet music from the university, Jones said.

Though Jones is not directly associated with the Syracuse Philharmonic, he said he does not feel the decision to hold off on the Philharmonic will set back the return of a professional orchestra to Syracuse.

Said Jones: ‘It seems like it’s forward momentum.’

dbtruong@syr.edu

Published on January 22, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Debbie: dbtruong@syr.edu | @debbietruong