The Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra has closed its doors after a
75-year run. Its apogee was marked by the construction of the Pikes
Peak Center, where its state-of-the-art acoustics attracted guest artists
whose names, faces, and talents graced stages and television screens
around the world.  Even with 2,000 plus seats, attendance was such that
each concert program required three performances.

While the population of greater Colorado Springs grew to nearly 500,000
(number depends on who is counting) ticket prices rose, attendance dropped
and the number of performances dropped with it.

The orchestra was a talented and dedicated band, certainly worth more
than its salaries.  (Which orchestra isn't?) Unfortunately, however, the
past ten years have been marred by labor unrest, threatened strikes, bad
blood, animosity, the forced resignation of a conductor the musicians
had themselves selected, and the removal of one general manager, if not
two.  The second, who jumped into the fray when no one else would, and
who restored order and a measure of peace, suddenly resigned without
explanation.  Most recently, musicians and management came to such an
impasse that arbitration proved impossible, and there was nothing left
to save.

A copy of the CSSO's press release follows:

   March 12, 2003

   Colorado Springs Symphony Closes Doors

   The Colorado Springs Symphony will cease operations and closed its
   doors effective close of business, Wednesday, March 12, 2003.  Today,
   the Symphony filed with the U.S.  Bankruptcy Court to convert to
   Chapter 7.  As a result, a trustee appointed by the U.S.  Bankruptcy
   Court becomes the custodian for the Symphony.

   All staff have been terminated.  All phones are being disconnected
   with consequential elimination of voice, fax and email communications.
   Any further communication with the Symphony should be made through
   postal services.  Communications may be addressed to:

   Colorado Springs Symphony
   P.O. Box 1692
   Colorado Springs, CO 80901.

   Contact with the U.S. Bankruptcy Count may be made as follows:
   U.S. Bankruptcy Court
   Re:  Colorado Springs Symphony
   Case No. 03-10421-HRT
   999 18th Street
   Denver, CO 80202

The Colorado Springs "Gazette" requires paid subscribership to access
its news stories on line, but one can read more about the CSSO's demise,
courtesy of the "San Francisco Chronicle" at:

   http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/03/13/national0912EST0571.DTL

Madeline Jenkins Millard
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Colorado Springs, Colorado