Rebuffed symphony seeks funds

Associated Press

TOLEDO

The Toledo Symphony has found it takes more than practice to get to Carnegie Hall. City officials voted against a proposal to give the musicians $10,000 to help cover the cost of a trip to perform in New York City.

Despite the setback, Kathy Carroll, the symphony’s president, said they’ll still make the trip and find the money from another source. “Life goes on, and we will still be at Carnegie Hall, and we intend to make the city proud,” she told The Blade. “We will continue to seek funds for the performance. You only get to debut once at Carnegie Hall.”

The symphony estimates it will cost $250,000 to transport its 80 musicians to the concert May 7. It was one of seven orchestras invited to play there as part of the Spring for Music festival.

City leaders proposed chipping in, saying that the trip would be a good way to showcase the city and generate a positive opinion about the area. But city council members rejected the idea by a 6-5 vote Tuesday.

Councilman Steven Steel, who supported the proposal, said the symphony’s trip could help dispel beliefs that Toledo is nothing more than a struggling Rust Belt city.