The Mid-Columbia Symphony is struggling, Tri-Citians can help save it | Editorial

It would be a regional tragedy, and a sad commentary on our community, if the Tri-Cities were to let the 80-year-old Mid-Columbia Symphony fade away.

That is the potential fate as the orchestra prepares for its next season.

Short of dollars, the symphony has scheduled fewer concerts for 2025-26 and delayed hiring a music director to succeed longtime director Nicholas Wallin, who stepped down in June.

Financial stress and symphonies go hand in hand. The traditional audience is aging, the volunteer base is declining, and societal tastes are evolving. But as reporter Wendy Culverwell explained in a recent Tri-City Herald news story, the Mid-Columbia Symphony is in a particular bind because a generous patron can no longer be as generous. As a result, the symphony has gone from a budget surplus to a $200,000 deficit.

It would be easy for the Tri-Cities to shrug their communal shoulders, say thanks for 80 years of delightful music and mutter, “Classical music was just for old fogeys, anyway.”

That would be inaccurate and irresponsible.

Symphony orchestras are hallmarks of communities that play in the big leagues. They exist in places that value history and innovation, that are culturally aware and economically healthy, that have residents who appreciate the arts.

A symphony encompasses our future, so it’s fitting that the Mid-Columbia Symphony performs in the Richland High School Auditorium where the musicians of tomorrow also play.

The musicians who perform in the Mid-Columbia Symphony play semiprofessionally. They embody lifelong traits that we want young people to develop – teamwork, confidence, dedication, work ethic and enjoyment in mastering a skill.

An orchestra requires people to collaborate for the good of the whole. Each person’s role, regardless of its size, is essential. It’s no wonder that young people who grow up with a music education find success in a variety of fields.

Financially supporting the Mid-Columbia Symphony – with sponsorships, donations, ticket purchases or other means – is to invest in the Tri-Cities and their future. It also sets an example for others.

A generous supporter will match donations totaling up to $30,000 through Sept. 30, doubling the impact of donations.

If the symphony can meet its fundraising goal, it can return to offering five concerts a season instead of the three currently planned for 2025-26. It could bring in more musicians, hire a long-term music director and perform a broader array of compositions.

Now is the time to erase any notion that symphonic music exists for the high-end crowd.

At the Mid-Columbia Symphony, concert tickets start at $20. Casual dress, including jeans or shorts, is fine. Children are welcome. People are encouraged to wear costumes to the Oct. 18 Halloween-themed opening concert, “Spooky Revelry.” That is not music for the elite; it is music for all.

When businesses consider opening in the Tri-Cities and when people think about moving here, the presence of a symphony sends a message that this is a place worth living. We should not give that up.

Those who can, should seriously consider a donation in the next few months. Everyone else should buy a ticket and hear what you’ve been missing.