Friday, April 18, 2014

Guest Announcement: The Fight for the San Diego Opera Continues

 Update: 30 Apr 2014: The SDO associates came through! The Campbells are out and the company won't be closing. Now it is safe for opera supporters to donate to help save the San Diego Opera. Please donate whatever you can. The money will be kept in an escrow account until the $1million necessary to save the 50th season is met (if not met, it will be returned).
---------------------------------------------
San Diego Opera Names Carol Lazier as Acting Board President
 
Board President Karen Cohn Resigns With 12 other Board Members
 
Company Closure date has been Deferred to May 19, 2014
 
During this time Company Will Solicit Donors to Fund Budget Proposed By Opera America
 
Meeting of the Members of the San Diego Opera Association to be Announced Shortly
 
SAN DIEGO – San Diego Opera announces Carol Lazier, the former Secretary of the Board, is now the acting President after President Karen Cohn resigned along with 12 other Directors in a board meeting that lasted over four hours.
At a duly convened meeting on April 17, 2014, by vote of the Directors constituting a majority of the required quorum for such meeting, the San Diego Opera Association deferred its previously announced April 29th date for closure of operations to at least May 19, 2014 to permit the reconstituted Board and the Special Committee led by Carol Lazier to explore opportunities to continue the Opera Association's mission.  A copy of the Resolution is attached. 
 Carol Lazier recently offered $1M to help the Company and Board members research and define ways to redirect the Company with new fundraising models, a new repertoire and production techniques, and new cost saving measures. 
“We have a devoted staff, an energized Association and a board newly focused on finding novel and fiscally responsible ways to present great opera to the City of San Diego.  I have been deeply encouraged by the outpouring of public support, and the genuine and enthusiastic participation by the San Diego Symphony, Opera America, and the opera world.  Together we can recreate San Diego Opera’s future.”
The Company, under her leadership, will now explore donor and fundraising options to prepare a 2015 season, the Company’s 50th, with advice from Opera America and outside experts.
A meeting of the Opera Association Members is being planned and details of that meeting will be announced shortly.
The Company, led by Ian Campbell, announced its closure last month which was originally scheduled to occur on April 14, 2014 after its final sold-out performance of Don Quixote. A vote by the board on March 31 delayed that closure by two-weeks until April 29, 2014. A vote yesterday extended this date to May 19, 2014.
Inquiries about the Resolution should be directed to Bruce S. Ross of Holland & Knight, bruce.ross@hklaw.com, 213 896-2400. 
Inquiries for the press release should be directed to Edward Wilensky at San Diego Opera, Edward.Wilensky@sdopera.com, 619-232-7636
www.sdopera.com

No comments: