Though St. Paul’s Rose Ensemble expected this season to be its last, the vocal group said Monday that ticket sales and support exceeded expectations, bringing in revenue to keep the group together while the board assesses its future.
In May 2018, the early-music group said a financial deficit caused by low ticket sales, a lack of institutional funding and legal expenses connected to an audit led to the ensemble deciding to shut down.
In Monday afternoon’s announcement, the Rose Ensemble said: “Owing to a 2018-2019 performance season that yielded earned revenue and contributions far beyond expectations, the board of directors of the critically acclaimed Rose Ensemble has decided to leave the organization’s books — and its options — open for at least another year. For now, dissolution has been called off.”
The news was announced to a sold-out crowd at the Rose Ensemble’s Finale Concert at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis on June 15. A follow-up email stated the ensemble is completely debt free and has can delay formal, legal dissolution while it looks at options.
The ensemble was going to begin dissolution after the June 15 concert.
A news release said there currently are no plans for more concert seasons, but the group’s future was buoyed by events such as performances at 17 senior communities last month.
Founder and artistic director Jordan Sramek said sold-out concerts, notable recording sales and larger-than-projected donations from individuals all played a role in helping the organization recover from previous debt.
“The generosity and concern shown by our international community of fans has been touching,” Sramek said in the release. “The volume of phone calls, emails, and letters I’ve personally received over the last year has demonstrated just how meaningful The Rose Ensemble is to people — and what a key role it has played in their cultural lives. It’s clear to me that our supporters have been in mourning. And they’ve been asking if this is really the end.”
