San Diego

San Diego Symphony musicians have hired Lee Ellen Hveem, the operations manager of the Fort Wayne, Ind., Philharmonic, as general manager of the 1987 Summer Pops.

Hveem, 31, who also performs with the Fort Wayne orchestra, said Wednesday, however, that her appointment does not mean the summer concert series is a certainty.

“I’m hopeful--let’s leave it at that,” she said, noting that she had been in San Diego only since Monday afternoon.

Hveem (pronounced “Vem”) is working on behalf of Debra McKeon, the former No. 3 official of the New York Philharmonic who was hired by the musicians several weeks ago to promote the Summer Pops, an annual program at Hospitality Point on Mission Bay.

Hveem said that because of such late efforts, the season--if it does take place--would have to be shortened from 12 weeks to 9, and would commence in early July, as opposed to its usual starting date in late June.

She said myriad technical problems and fund-raising details need to be worked out before an official announcement of any type could be made. Hveem expects to make such an announcement--to play or not to play--by the end of the week.

The San Diego Symphony Assn., the management arm of the San Diego Symphony, said several weeks ago that it would not promote a Summer Pops this season, but symphony musicians were invited to try to fund one on their own. The symphony also announced last week that it will not fund a 1987-88 winter season.