K-W Symphony says it needs $2 million to continue operations

"Our situation has gone from dire to desperate. We do not have a long runway left," past symphony chair Heather Galt says.

Almost three days after it abruptly cancelled its upcoming season, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony has broken its silence on the financial problems it says necessitated the decision.

In a news release Tuesday, the symphony said it needs around $2 million to restructure and continue operations in the future.

“The future right now is uncertain,” past symphony chair Heather Galt said in the organization’s first interview with CTV News since news of the cancellation broke.

“We are reaching out to all of the stakeholders that we have talked to in the last months to let them know that our situation has gone from dire to desperate. We do not have a long runway left.”

On Saturday evening, the symphony sent an email to the 50 musicians it employs, telling them it had cancelled the upcoming season. The musicians were due to return to work the next day.

On Sunday evening, it informed ticket holders all upcoming performances had been cancelled and it would not be issuing refunds. Instead, previously purchased tickets would be eligible to receive a tax receipt, it said.

Similarly, anyone who paid tuition as part of the junior orchestra would not get their money back.