7 Comments
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Agna's avatar

The absence of any reference to the orchestral or symphonic art in the mission statement is glaring

Steve's avatar

Thanks for making these financials comprehensible. I appreciate the detailed explanations, but it’s the big picture that staggers me.

Chad Smith has made numerous false public statements regarding the BSO’s finances. Yet Barbara Hostetter, who pays him $1.3 million a year says nothing about his dissembling. Is she as inept at financial management as he appears to be?

When will the Trustees speak up and demand truthfulness?

Thomas W. Dinsmore's avatar

Chad is Barb's messenger boy. He's doing exactly what she wants him to do

Sladr Drawls's avatar

My only quibble (and it's genuinely tiny) with the jab towards the word-count discrepancy between the descriptions of the orchestra programs that generate more than $84M and the education programs that generate less than $500K is that, to my knowledge, many BSO education programs – not least the fellowship-based Tanglewood Music Center – are free of charge. I haven't read the description, but I'm guessing most of that income is derived from the purchase of discounted tickets by Boston-area schools to youth concerts at Symphony Hall...or maybe Linde Center programs? Being lectured on "the future of orchestras" by someone whose conducting was individually and separately described by three BSO members as "dry" is certainly educational.

Thomas W. Dinsmore's avatar

It’s a good quibble. Thanks!

DonnaMac's avatar

Wow - thanks as always for sifting through all the financial details to provide us with a clear & comprehensive picture of the differences between what Chad & the board have been peddling and reality! Feel lucky to have you as such a knowledgeable resource ❤️🌹

Thomas W. Dinsmore's avatar

Thanks for reading!