Minn. Orchestra announces balanced budget for third year

The Minnesota Orchestra Wednesday announced a balanced budget for the third year in a row, and says plans to expand Orchestra Hall are on track.

Orchestra president Michael Henson says the organization cut expenses and carefully monitored other costs in a tough economic year. However, he says donors are responding positively to the hall expansion proposal.

"We announced we will be showing initial designs at the end of February. The fundraising for this is going very well," Henson said. "In the last three months, we've raised $10 million towards this project. We are obviously going for state bonding and I am very keen to get that element involved in the project, so I think we are going forward with optimism."

Henson says the last fiscal year was also one of artistic success for the orchestra both at home and abroad.

"We are quietly pleased with the results," he said. "We are in control of a difficult situation and I think we are looking forward to the future with a similar amount of control, mindful of the economy we face."

He says the coming year will continue to present economic challenges but he is confident the orchestra is keeping a careful handle on the situation.