San Antonio Philharmonic Engages in Legal Battle with Former Board Members

San Antonio Philharmonic Faces Legal Turmoil with Former Board Members

San Antonio is once again buzzing with arts and culture news, but this time there’s a twist involving legal battles. The San Antonio Philharmonic, which rose from the ashes of the now-defunct San Antonio Symphony, is now in a legal tug-of-war after filing a lawsuit against two of its former board members. The lawsuit, filed just this past Tuesday in 150th District Court, is causing quite a stir in the local arts community.

A Contentious Board Meeting Sparks Legal Drama

The crux of the lawsuit revolves around a highly contentious board meeting on June 20. According to the Philharmonic, two former board members, David Wood and Peter Rubins, allegedly attempted to take control of the board during this tumultuous gathering. The lawsuit suggests that their actions violated the organization’s bylaws, and misled the community regarding the Philharmonic’s true interests.

In fact, the legal filing claims that the whole drama unfolded after a heated discussion about whether six board members, whose terms were about to expire, including a member named Ian Thompson, should remain on the board. The board did not vote on that issue, but a motion was reportedly made to appoint Thompson as chair. The lawsuit suggests this was unauthorized, with the defendants allegedly attempting to circumvent proper procedures.

“A majority vote of the quorum was not achieved for a new Chairman,” the documents state. Despite this, Thompson supposedly declared himself as the new chairman and, amusingly enough, turned to the previous chair, Brian Petkovich, asking him, “What do I do now?” This moment of confusion might have set the stage for further disputes.

The Fallout and Allegations

Following this chaotic meeting, some board members expressed concerns about Thompson’s legitimacy as chair. Legal advice was sought, leading to the departure of the six board members whose terms were ending. This left just three board members: actor Jesse Borrego, who is now chairman, along with April Brahinsky and Wood.

Things took a turn for the worse when Wood, after losing his board position, became more vocal about his dissatisfaction, taking to social media to criticize the Philharmonic’s leadership. His conduct even led the board to hold a special meeting to address his behavior. Of course, he did not attend that meeting, leading to a vote that ultimately removed him from the board. A couple of weeks later, both Wood and his wife, Colette Holt, also filed their own lawsuit against the orchestra regarding loans they had given the organization.

Financial Fallout and Future Performances

The couple initially lent a substantial sum of $150,000 to help the Philharmonic acquire assets from the old San Antonio Symphony. Now, they’re seeking repayment for that loan, as they argue the Philharmonic isn’t meeting the conditions laid out in their agreement. The suite also mentions additional claims related to a separate $45,000 loan related to the purchase of a band shell, suggesting the shell was never bought, something the Philharmonic claims is not true.

Amidst all this drama, the Philharmonic is shifting gears. They announced postponements for two concerts originally scheduled for October 18 and 19, featuring acclaimed pianist Jon Kimura Parker. Executive Director Roberto Treviño explained that they’re taking this time to regroup and ensure they can deliver an impressive lineup, including classic performances like Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in mid-November and a festive Folklórico Nutcracker production in December. Treviño noted, “We’re trying to be smart and adjust so that we’re able to do what we set out to do, which is put on an incredible season of great music and great entertainment.”

As the San Antonio Philharmonic sets out to clear its name and maintain its vision of bringing music to life, one can only hope that they find a peaceful resolution to this ongoing saga!