Future of Punta Gorda Symphony in question after canceled concert, concerned musicians

Over the last 45 years, the Punta Gorda Symphony has grown from a small, amateur community chamber ensemble into a full orchestra with professional musicians who come together for six main concerts each year. But its future was thrown into doubt this week after the season finale program was canceled at the last minute over alleged threats by the conductor and musicians saying they have likely lost their jobs.

Leaders of the organization, formerly known as the Charlotte Symphony, declined to speak about the bigger picture of the orchestra’s future. But they issued a statement late Tuesday afternoon about Sunday’s concert cancellation, which happened about two hours before a 7:30 p.m. performance. In an email to patrons, the organization said it was due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

The Symphony statement said: “We were saddened to learn that false and potentially alarming information was shared with our musicians by our musical director, Raffaele Ponti. This false information continued to spread, which led to what we interpreted as a physical threat from him, resulting in the cancellation of our final mainstage concert of the season.”

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The statement also said, “The safety of our leadership team, staff, patrons, and musicians at the Punta Gorda Symphony is our highest priority, and we do not tolerate bullying, harassment or threats of any kind.”

Ponti denied making any kind of physical threats. He said he was threatened with arrest on Sunday if he didn’t immediately leave the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center after the concert was canceled. That night, musicians were escorted by police or security guards to retrieve their instruments from the rehearsal space.

Several musicians said Ponti planned to speak out about upcoming changes to the organization that Symphony leaders had not shared publicly and which Ponti said he was asked not to talk about.

A week prior to the canceled concert, all Punta Gorda Symphony musicians were notified that they would have to submit video auditions for a chance to keep their positions next season. But several said they were not told for whom they were auditioning because Symphony leaders had not announced a replacement for Ponti. In fact, several musicians said they had never been officially notified that Ponti’s contract was not renewed – a decision made months earlier. There were rumors that a new music director had been hired and would be announced after the final concert.

Rumors flew in conversations and on social media following the canceled concert, most involving suggestions that The Venice Symphony was taking over or somehow merging with the Punta Gorda Symphony or absorbing the organization.

In response to the social media posts and media inquiries, The Venice Symphony Board of Trustees issued its own statement Tuesday saying it “had been exploring an artistic relationship with the Punta Gorda Symphony that is currently no longer seen as viable or positive for either organization.”

No one from Venice Symphony was available Tuesday to explain what type of artistic relationship the two groups were working on, for how long and when the change of attitude about the potential connection happened.

But the Venice board said it supports “the Punta Gorda Symphony as they re-evaluate how to move forward in the best interests of their organization and their community. The Venice Symphony Board is committed to supporting the arts in our community and our colleagues of Southwest Florida and beyond. We respect and support the contributions of all musicians who are dedicated to sharing their vision and talent with our region.”

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Punta Gorda Symphony musicians in the dark

Over the last decade, Ponti helped to transform the Punta Gorda Symphony from a mostly amateur ensemble to a group of professionals, including veteran musicians from the Boston Symphony, Metropolitan Opera and the Naples Philharmonic.

The request to re-audition for their positions and the lack of time to prepare the videos was considered insulting by many of the performers.

“I’ve been there 10 years. I auditioned and won my position,” said principal clarinet Stacey McColley. “To do an audition video in four days of any quality while rehearsing for a concert of that quality and teaching, it’s impossible. They were well aware of that. Most musicians take eight weeks to prepare for an audition.”

Dean Anderson, principal percussion who spent more than 40 years playing with the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops and Boston Ballet, said the request was “really a slap in the face.” He said the musicians had just formed a committee to work with the symphony administration on improving communication and other issues.

Raffaele Ponti out at Punta Gorda Symphony

The musicians said they were not officially notified about Ponti’s planned departure or about a new music director.

Typically, symphonies invite guest conductors to lead their orchestras in an open or closed audition process to determine the next music director or main conductor.

The Sarasota Orchestra did that before it hired Bramwell Tovey to become its new music director, and the organization had to renew the search when Tovey unexpectedly died last summer before he could take over. Troy Quinn was hired as music director of The Venice Symphony during an open search following a season of all guest conductors.

Ponti, who was hired in 2013, said he put together “an all-star orchestra that people came from all over Florida to play in.” He said he began negotiating in October 2021 for a new five-year contract, plus a five-year extension “to continue to grow this organization and have the greatest music-making for 10 years.” He said he “didn’t ask for a penny more than I was getting” and he believed he had made a verbal agreement with Michael Landsberg, the chairman of the symphony board.

But a final contract never came.

“At the ultimate last second, I get a phone call from Landsberg saying we have decided to go in a different direction. I was dumbfounded,” Ponti said. “I thought he was joking, teasing me. I couldn’t believe it. That’s all he would say to me. It was non-negotiable.”

The music director was expected to fill out the final year of his contract and was not supposed to say anything about his contract not being renewed, he said. Ponti said though he never spoke about the change word got out among the musicians. “The staff was sworn to secrecy not to let the name of the new conductor out. They’re going to lose their jobs.”

Musicians who had been hearing Ponti would not be back said they were confused and didn’t know who would be taking his place, fueling the rumors about The Venice Symphony. They also said that audience members and sponsors should have been told about potential changes. Several said the Venice group had booked dates for the 2023-24 season at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center, where the Punta Gorda Symphony usually performs. The Venice ensemble is expected to announce plans for its next season later this month.

Landsberg did not return a call seeking comment on Tuesday. Executive Director Jennifer Bitner, who has been in her job for only a few months, was out of town when the concert was canceled and did not return requests for comment.

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Punta Gorda Symphony future unclear after tumultuous week for artists