NC Symphony hopes to earn legislative money

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Symphony is adopting some unusual fundraising tactics to take advantage of money that legislators dangled in front of the orchestra.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Thursday that lawmakers approved a $1.5 million appropriation to help the financially struggling symphony. But there’s a catch – the orchestra must raise $8 million to get the state money.

So, the symphony has held unusual fundraising events, such as the one recently at a Raleigh restaurant, where a music patron bid $10,000 for a private recital at home by violinist Joshua Bell. Bell will appear with the symphony in January.

The symphony lost $2 million last year and owes nearly $4 million to lenders. Its budget has been cut from $14 million to just under $12 million.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)