About those reserved symphony seats
As music aficionados undoubtedly noticed, there’s a
pecking order to seating at the now concluded free concerts of the Sun Valley
Summer Symphony. Of the more than 900 seats under the concert tent, the first 10
middle-section rows are reserved for donors who underwrite the talented musicians culled
from America’s leading symphonies. Among costs covered by donations are
musicians’ air fares and salaries.
As explained by Carol Nie, president of the symphony’s board of
directors, the first few of those rows are reserved for patrons who donate $10,000 and up.
This is scaled down to $2,000 for the last few seats in the section. Nie added that the
non-donor segment of the public is allowed to take the section’s empty seats—if
any are left—10 minutes before the concert.
Still, if this is a free event, why should a seat be a quid pro quo for
largess?
"It is because of the generosity of our major donors that we are
able to present this concert free of charge," Nie said, responding to the question.
"We are totally dependent on the people who contribute. We feel it’s important
that we show our appreciation. We are not selling seats."
No doubt, contributors make this acclaimed series possible.
They’re to be commended for their taste and foresight. If asked, wouldn’t they
be the first to say that all of the 900-plus seats should be available and free to the
public?
