Citing financial strain, San Antonio Philharmonic scraps two more scheduled performances

Pianist Daniela Liebman performs with the San Antonio Philharmonic last year. Credit: Instagram / saphilharmonic

Facing a financial crunch, the San Antonio Philharmonic has cancelled its third set of concert dates since December, an email from the organization’s top official shows.

The message — which CEO Roberto Treviño sent to musicians on Dec. 30 — scraps the orchestra’s Jan. 16 and 17 Classics V shows. The nonprofit arts organization couldn’t raise the cash to “safely cover the costs associated with staging the guest artist, the ensemble and the production team,” he adds in the communication.

Further, Treviño writes that the orchestra’s staff and board are working to line up future funding so they can “bring inspired music back for our community as soon as possible.”

News of the cancelation follows less than a month after Philharmonic scrapped its Holiday Pops and New Year’s Eve concerts. However, the Holiday Pops shows were later relocated to Sea World San Antonio.

The string of aborted and rescheduled dates also comes after the Scottish Rite fraternal order sent a letter to the Philharmonic in November ordering it to vacate the masonic lodge’s downtown building. A year prior, the orchestra announced a deal that it said made the 1924 structure its permanent performance space.

In comments to the Current at the time, Treviño said the December cancellations were the result of “ongoing negotiations” with the Scottish Rite.

Contacted by phone about the latest email, Treviño chalked up the Classics V cancelations to a slowdown in fundraising, which he said typically comes in “waves.” While waiting on the disbursement of $300,000 in recently awarded funds from Bexar County, the nonprofit experienced a falloff in late-year donations.

“We are rebuilding those relationships [with donors] as we speak,” Treviño told the Current. “The reality for us as we put on our events is that we want to make sure our concerts are things that we can cover. You know, we have a large payroll — we have a guest artist, a conductor and so forth.”

New legal filing

Treviño added that the Philharmonic’s attorney is continuing talks with Scottish Rite officials. The orchestra hopes to iron out a new agreement that will allow it to use the building on a regular basis, he added.

Scottish Rite officials, including the group’s attorney, were unavailable for comment at press time Monday morning.

However, in paperwork intervening in an existing legal dispute between the Philharmonic and individuals David Wood and Peter Rubins, the Scottish Rite seeks to sever its relationship with the orchestra.

The legal filing — made just before deadline Monday in Bexar County court and after the Current’s initial call with Treviño — alleges a deal signed between the lodge and the Phil for use of the building required the orchestra to pay $750,000 to begin repairs and refurbishment of the century-old structure by July 31. That deadline came and went, as did an extension until Aug. 7, according to the document’s allegations.

“The precise amount aside, Philharmonic did not and has not tendered any amount in satisfaction of the Initial Investment, nor has it provided any accounting or backup for any argument that it has made $750,000 worth of contributions that could or should comprise the Initial Investment,” the filing states. “Philharmonic has not even identified the amount it contends should be paid. Philharmonic knows well that Scottish Rite expected the Initial Investment and yet refused to tender it (likely, it was unable to do so).”

The filing asks the court to enforce the Scottish Rite’s claim that it can eject the orchestra from its building.

When asked about the filing, Treviño had no immediate comment, although he said the Phil’s team is looking into the matter and “will respond accordingly.”

Email details

Treviño’s email thanks the Phil’s musicians for their “understanding, resilience and unwavering commitment” and adds that the organization’s leadership is “inspired by your artistry even in difficult moments.”

Even so, the message strikes a somber tone about the financial situation at the orchestra, which rose from the ashes of the San Antonio Symphony, an entity dissolved in 2022 during a prolonged labor dispute.

“This decision [to cancel] did not come lightly, and it follows careful consideration of our current financial reality,” the email states. “Despite our best efforts to secure the necessary funds, donations and sponsorships have not reached the level required to safely cover the costs associated with staging the guest artist, the ensemble and the production team.”

The message continues: “Understandably, this news may bring disappointment and concern. We share in that disappointment with you. We are committed to being transparent about what happened and what comes next, and we are here to support you through this change.”

At press time, the Philharmonic’s website still lists the Classics V concerts, which were to feature pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, a finalist in the 2018 BBC Young Musician contest. The performances were to include Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11, “The Year 1905,” and other selections.

However, an attempt to click the button to buy tickets via the website resulted in the message “We’re sorry, that event is currently unavailable.”

Fundraising questions

An executive at one large San Antonio company familiar with the city’s corporate fundraising circles said his employer has cut off funding for the Philharmonic. The person also said a lack of a corporate presence on the organization’s board suggests it may be having trouble bringing in significant donations from the business community.

“If they don’t have corporate support, they won’t survive,” said the person, who asked not to be named for fear of harming the reputation of the company where they now work.

However, Treviño said he’s confident new funding streams will carry the orchestra through. He pointed out that the Classics VI concert is still on the books for Febr. 13 and 14. Beyond that, four additional weekends of classical performances remain listed on the orchestra’s website.

Treviño said the Philharmonic, in common with other arts organizations, experienced tough fundraising conditions in 2025. The cancelation of the January concerts was a fiscally responsible move made to avoid losing money, he added.

“We’re incredibly grateful for every donation we receive,” Treviño said, noting that the organization has received contributions as small as $10 from individual community members.

“We really see that as a huge responsibility to be very, very careful how we operate and manage within our means. I think we’re doing that. We’re being smart about that. We want to carry to legacy of the Symphony and the Philharmonic for another hundred years.”

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Citing financial strain, San Antonio Philharmonic scraps two more scheduled performances

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