Southwest Florida Symphony to Close After 64 Years

The orchestra's board cited significant annual deficits and reductions to arts funding as the primary causes

64 years after its founding, the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra (SWFSO) has announced that it will cease operations on June 30, 2025.

According to Board President Tom Uhler, the SWFSO has been in a financially precarious position for some time, with operational restrictions, increased performance costs, and the loss of state funding all playing a role.

The orchestra avoided closing during the global financial crisis, but only through a Save Our Symphony donation campaign — and in 2024, Ron DeSantis's significant reductions to arts funding (which resulted in the orchestra losing $143,874 per annum) were a further blow.

The orchestra's management says they "thoroughly explored options to find a sustainable path moving forward," but were unable to come up with a viable plan.

The symphony's musicians, however, were of a different opinion; they released a statement which argued that "the true cause of SWFSO's demise is over a decade of weak and shortsighted leadership." This included "chronic mismanagement, programming cuts, declining community presence, and deteriorating labor relations" which ultimately eroded the public's support for the ensemble.

"After much consideration and given recent leadership departures at the staff and board levels, the board of trustees has determined that the only course of action is to close the Southwest Florida Symphony," said board of trustees President Tom Uhler in a statement.

"It was a difficult decision, and I’m proud of the board’s commitment to the Symphony with consideration for the staff, the musicians, the donors and community. We appreciate everyone’s support over the years."