
In an inspiring show of unity and resilience, local musicians are rallying together in a heartfelt bid to rescue the venerable Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (KWS). The Symphony, an institution that has graced the community with its harmonious melodies for nearly 80 years, recently announced the grim reality of its impending insolvency, following the abrupt cancellation of its upcoming season.
In a race against time, the Symphony has estimated a distressing sum of $2 million required to restructure and perpetuate its operations; a sum it ideally needs to procure by the imminent end of the week. The musicians’ worst fears resemble a worrying image: the final curtain call of the KWS, an 80-year-old organization rooted in their hearts.
Not surprisingly, this startling revelation has spurred a whirlwind of emotions among the Symphony participants. Renowned conductor, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser expressed his raw sentiments, voicing the collective anguish which he describes as a mix of “sadness, anger and confusion.”
Refusing to be daunted, the resilient orchestra of over 50 musicians has taken it upon themselves to champion the survival of KWS. In a recent heart-stirring display, Allene Chomin, a violinist, and her fellow musicians staged an impromptu performance on the steps of the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts in Kitchener; a silent plea to spread the word, and an embodiment of their clinging, albeit dwindling, hope.
Adding momentum to their cause, Kendra Grittani, a cellist for the symphony, spearheaded an online fundraising campaign that surprisingly raised over $130,000 in merely its first 20 hours. Guarding the interests of their musical fraternity, Grittani made it clear that the raised funds would only be transferred after a discussion and agreement with the board regarding the Symphony’s restructuring.
In case the fundraising falls short of their target, the musicians have decided to allocate the sum towards supporting those who lost work. “Our primary function is to make sure that musicians who don’t have jobs will have their wages covered in some way,” Grittani stated.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony shares a special bond with its musicians, resonating deeper than mere profession. An epitome of this profound connection is Ms. Chomin, who along with her husband, has been an integral part of the Symphony for 16 years. They were wedded at city hall, and held their wedding reception at the very stage that they hope to save now, the Conrad Centre.
As of recent update, their GoFundMe initiative stands at a promising $137,000. In conjunction to their crowdfunding efforts, the musicians optimistically look forward to possible aid from generous donors, marking a leap from their “dire to desperate” situation, as former KWS chair Heather Galt puts it.
Their display of unity, resilience, and a fervent hope shines through the looming clouds of uncertainty, painting a defiant stand against possible silence, and an unyielding desire to keep the beautiful strains of KWS from fading into oblivion.