Bach Society Goes Back Into the Black

After severe and mysterious financial losses last year, the Bach Society Orchestra has recovered from a large debt and is now operating with a profit, club officers said yesterday.

The orchestra, which started the year with an unexplained $2000 debt, is now well over $2000 in the black, Bach Society Music Director and Conductor Alan T. Gilbert '89 said.

Early this fall Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III launched an investigation into the society's financial situation when the orchestra became saddled with a large and unexpected debt resulting from financial mismanagement by last year's officers.

The College took over the financial problems when the society was unable to reach the former conductor, Scott Gregg '88 and demand an explanation of their fiscal situation.

Gregg, who Gilbert said "became unreachable when the whole thing started to explode," wrote a letter to The Crimson last fall, denying allegations of embezzlement.

The dean's office has since dropped its investigation, Gilbert said. "Getting the money back would have required steps the College was not willing to take," he added.

The society received several grants from the Undergraduate Council and the Office for the Arts at the beginning of the year, which enabled it to pull itself out of debt early in the year, Gilbert said.

In addition, significant revenues came from the society's sold-out March 10 concert, which featured internationally known violinist Midori. Gilbert said the society's three concerts this year were al well-attended.

The orchestra was also able to recover financially by cutting publicity and xeroxing costs by one-half, said Bach Society General Manager Karl R. Thompson '91.

Faced with an outstanding bill of $1300 for the use of Sanders Theater last year, the orchestra was denied the use of theater this year and has since held all of its concerts in Paine Hall.

Although the society has paid its bill at Sanders, it will most likely continue to perform at Paine Hall next year, Gilbert said.