"Orchestras are not funded by ticket sales," Beaudoin said. "I don’t think people understand what it costs."

"Given the months of preparation that have already gone into this concert, this was a very difficult decision," Behrens said. "It is part of a package of decisions relating to personnel, future programming, development, and marketing strategy designed to keep the orchestra solvent and set it on a firm foundation for the future."

Similar issues surround the cancellation of the summer holiday concerts.

In Beloit, the Stateline Community Foundation and businesses sponsored the holiday show. The Stateline Community Foundation was hard hit by the stock market plunge, as well.

The symphony is already preparing for the fall 2009-2010 season and is on "solid ground," Beaudoin said.

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