In the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, R. M. Campbell comments upon the fiscal status of three major Seattle performing arts organizations as of June 30, 2005, noting that Pacific Northwest Ballet's status has improved, relative to the status of Seattle Opera (with a 2004-05 deficit of $250-280K) and the Seattle Symphony (working to reduce an accumulated deficit now at $850K):

2004-05 Fiscal Year End Summaries

Seattle's Northwest Chamber Orchestra earned front page status in the St. Patrick's Day edition of the Seattle Times by voting to file for bankruptcy protection and cancelling the remaining two subsciption concerts of the 2005-06 season. The Seattle Times article by Melinda Bargreen reiterates many of the points that I have made time and again about the particular plight of midsized arts organizations which find themselves squeezed out of the funding pipeline.

Seattle Times

The Northwest Chamber Orchestra players form the nucleus of two other orchestras, the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra and the Auburn Symphony (both orchestras directed by PNB Music Director Stewart Kershaw).

In further cheerful news for St. Patrick's Day, a Seattle Symphony first violinist has decided to bring charges of a hostile work environment to King County Superior Court for trial. R. M. Campbell reports in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Seattle P-I

In the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, R. M. Campbell discusses the NWCO bankruptcy in further detail, including notes and comments from other chamber groups regarding the future:

Seattle P-I

R. M. Campbell reports on the Seattle Symphony's annual and accumulated deficits for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, with comparisons to all of the other major Seattle arts organizations:

Seattle Post-Intelligencer