Ex-Symphony Leader Awarded Back Wages

A judge has awarded the former executive director of the Ventura County Symphony Assn. $5,000 in back wages because she was terminated after giving a six-month notice of resignation.

Karine Beesley successfully argued in Small Claims Court that she was fired without cause Oct. 11, three months after she gave notice July 27. Beesley, who was hired in 1987, argued that she was entitled to her $3,242 monthly salary through Jan. 31.

But because Beesley took her dispute to Small Claims Court, she was only entitled to the court maximum of $5,000. The judge also awarded her $40 in court costs.

“I’m sitting back waiting for the check,” said Beesley, who received the judgment by mail Tuesday. “They can’t ignore this. It’s a formal judgment from the court.”

Beesley, who works from her Ventura home, is now director of the John Anson Ford Theatre Foundation in Los Angeles.

The verdict will be appealed, said Felice Ginsberg, president of the Ventura County Symphony board.

“We feel we’ve paid her everything she is entitled to,” Ginsberg said.

Officials with the Ventura County Symphony and Conejo Symphony in Thousand Oaks announced earlier this year that the entities would merge by July. Officials said the assets and debts of both symphonies would be assumed by the newly formed orchestra, called the New West Symphony.

The Ventura County Symphony hired Patricia Hesslebach in December to replace Beesley. Hesslebach said Wednesday that she has not been hired by the new symphony and will be unemployed as of June 30. At least 60 musicians will also be without a symphonic venue next year because of the merger.