Philharmonic Group Ends Season in Black

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County, the leading presenter of touring orchestras in the county, ended its fiscal year with an operating surplus of $30,303, officials have announced.

Income in unaudited figures was reported at $3,167,945. More than $1 million of that came from ticket sales. Total expenses were $3,137,642. That brings the organization’s accumulated surplus to about $2.8 million.

Paid attendance at 12 concerts the society presented at the Orange County Performing Arts Center averaged 68%; 93% at 18 Irvine Barclay programs, and 100% at three Laguna Beach Artists Theatre events. Subscription sales in most cases rose during the year.

Arts philanthropist Henry Segerstrom was the guest speaker at the society’s annual meeting, at which financial figures were announced earlier this week. He spoke for about five minutes about Orange County’s arts history and an increasing cooperation among regional arts groups, as exemplified by the recently announced “Counterpoint” partnership between the Philharmonic Society and the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

Werner Brandstetter, Austrian consul general in Los Angeles, presented special decorations from the Austrian government to executive director Dean Corey and board members Eva Schneider and Fritz Westerhout, for their help in bringing the Vienna Philharmonic to Orange County last year. Corey announced that the society plans to present the orchestra again in March 2002.