Drewel gives Everett Symphony helping hand

Published 11:05 pm Friday, February 5, 2010

EVERETT — The beleaguered Everett Symphony has enlisted help from one of Snohomish County’s star leaders with hopes that his savvy in the areas of economic development and problem solving will lead the symphony to play music once again.

But Bob Drewel is not performing solo on this gig.

Drewel, the former head of Snohomish County government, will take on the position of chairman of the symphony’s new advisory council.

The new Everett Symphony Advisory Council will consist of about 100 people from a wide range of fields, including musicians, musical educators, arts producers, donors, patrons and other community members.

The council’s goal will be to help the symphony get a better feel for what the community’s cultural needs are and to help the Everett Symphony Board of Directors develop a self-sustaining business plan.

The council will begin work in the spring, when a series of music summits kick off and the council begins to react to, refine and prioritize ideas brought forward from the community.

“I am going to assess the environment, the viability of the symphony,” Drewel said Friday. “And it’s going to be a done in a fashion that will ask as many people as possible and will look at other regions and what they’ve done and move forward without any pre-conceived notions.”

Drewel, a former member of the symphony board of directors, said the 71-year-old symphony was part of the cultural fabric of Snohomish County and that having the symphony go dark reflects badly on the community.

The stagnant economy coupled with nine years of poor financial planning caused the symphony board to declare a premature end to the symphony’s 2010 season on Jan. 29, canceling the remainder of its adult concerts and terminating the contracts of all the musicians, along with the contract for long-time and much beloved music director Paul-Elliott Cobbs.

In addition to closing the season early to save money, the symphony also drew down its $1 million endowment by taking out $500,000 to pay off its debt.

The symphony has also sold its 6,600-square-foot art-deco style rehearsal hall and offices at 2710 Colby Ave. in Everett and is now moving its offices to the Everett Mall.

The symphony is exploring the tri-plex theater vacated in 2006 when Regal Cinemas moved into its 16-plex theater. A one-year feasibility study will be conducted to determine if the space can be modified to be used as a rehearsal hall and performance venue for some of the symphony’s smaller performances.

“The symphony has always been an ambassador as well for this community and with that comes a great deal of pride,” Drewel said.

Drewel, who lives in Arlington, is executive director of the Puget Sound Regional Council. He said the agency spends a great deal of time talking about tourism and the importance of art and culture in a community.

“I’m just tickled to play a role closer to home,” he said.

Before his job at the Puget Sound Regional Council, Drewel served three terms as Snohomish County executive and has held various other leadership roles including former CEO for Everett Community College. He has built a reputation on creating bridges between the contending interests of private and public sectors.

“Bob has always been a good friend to the orchestra, way beyond just a politician who thought we were cute,” said the symphony’s principal cellist Cami Davis. “He’s always been really passionate about the orchestra.”

The symphony board believes being passionate about the Everett Symphony along with a sound business plan is what is needed now.

Board President Myrna Overstreet said the symphony has failed to “effectively identify and meet the needs of our community.”

“Our financial problems go back over a decade. Our decisions to keep the music going no matter what have caught up with us,” Overstreet said. “As a result, our community has gradually withdrawn its support. We want to change this.”

Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.