Judge halts release of $6.5 million Phoenix Symphony gift

The Phoenix Symphony has paused its season and fired its entire music staff. Days later, a court order froze a $6.5 million gift that was meant to help the group survive.

The money comes from the trust of Glenn and May Tansley, a late couple from the Valley. A Maricopa County judge approved the release of the funds on October 14. On October 22, the trustee filed a motion to freeze the assets. The filing argues the symphony hid key details about its financial collapse before the judge signed off on the payout.

Musicians reacted to the sudden end of their contracts with shock and grief. One player described the shutdown as personally devastating. That musician said it is artistically devastating to know they have devoted their life to the ensemble.

The Tansley trustee pushed back against the approval in legal documents. The trustee claimed the orchestra failed to reveal its plan to stop operating before the money was cleared for disbursement.

The Phoenix Symphony rejected the idea that it misled anyone. The organization said it will fight the motion in court. "We disagree with the Trustee’s characterization of the Symphony’s actions and we will respond to this motion in court shortly," the group stated. The statement added that suspending the season does not mean the Phoenix Symphony has ceased operating.

The symphony’s chief executive officer called the timing of the freeze a coincidence. Leadership argued the donation would not have saved the current season even if the cash had arrived immediately. Terms written into the trust in 1992 limit the gift to a permanent memorial fund. The rules prevent the group from using the principal to pay daily operating costs.

The orchestra has not yet received the $6.5 million. It is working to restructure its finances so live performances can return. A judge has not ruled on the trustee’s motion to reverse the earlier approval.