Page 12 - WORTHING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

12
Worthing Symphony
SOCIETY
The
Society has
been at the Orchestra’s side for the past four decades.
Professional musicians of the calibre of those we are privileged to see and hear in the Assembly Hall do not come
cheap, and funding is the major challenge facing WSO.
Ticket revenue never has and never will bring in sufficient income to cover the costs of staging a season of orchestral concerts. For decades WSO was a Municipal Orchestra –
largely financed by the Borough for the people of the town and its hinterland – and (in the case of seaside resorts like Worthing) as an added attraction for visitors.
But with the economic turmoil of the 1970s, the advancement of technology and changing tastes and fashions ... the Municipal Orchestras of the UK found themselves in a precarious position with many falling by the wayside. Conductor Jan Cervenka was determined to ensure that WSO did not go the way of others. He had the foresight to realise that the Orchestra could not continue to rely solely on the benevolence of the Worthing ratepayer, and so Worthing Symphony Society was born.
WSS was formed in 1982 and registered as a Charity in 1983. Although its role has evolved and developed through the years, the organisation remains an integral part of the WSO story. Through ups, downs and existential threats to the Orchestra’s survival, WSS has been there, a stalwart and reassuring friend through the many difficulties WSO has faced.
In recent years and with greatly reduced public funding, it became clear that if WSO is to reach
its Centenary in 2026, then it needs to become self-sufficient and the premise that WSO is majorly funded from the public purse, is no longer the case. The support of Worthing Symphony Society and all those who raise funds for the Orchestra, through purchasing tickets, WSS membership, sponsorship, legacies and gifts, is more essential than ever.
Celebrating
40 YEARS
supporting
WSO