>From the Toronto Star, 12/30/03 -

   KITCHENER- One of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony's most
   generous financial supporters is demanding the resignation
   of the entire board of directors for the "unjust dismissal"
   of conductor Martin Fischer-Dieskau.

   Anna Woerner said yesterday that she and other influential
   patrons are "appalled and devastated" by the early termination
   of the conductor's contract.

   Woerner's family has contributed about $8.5 million in the
   past eight years to various causes, including $5 million to
   Kitchener's Centre in the Square, the orchestra and Opera
   Ontario.

   Her group wants to ask Fischer-Dieskau to return to Kitchener
   and complete his three-year contract, which was to expire
   next May.

   Two directors have already quit the symphony board over the
   conductor's dismissal.

 [In answer to the obvious question: yes, he is the son of...]

Janos Gereben/SF
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