Since the beginning of the 2004-05 season, the SPCO has engaged musicians with varied specialties as 'artistic partners' rather than employing a single music director. Abbado (Claudio's nephew) is a symphonic conductor; Boyd is an oboist and leader of chamber orchestras. Next season they will be joined at the orchestra by a new artistic partner, soprano Dawn Upshaw, as well as returning pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard and conductor Nicholas McGegan. Violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Stephen Prutsman will complete their three-year terms as partners next season.

The SPCO has also balanced its budget for the third consecutive year and for the 12th time in 13 years, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The orchestra finished the fiscal year ending June 30 with a surplus of $159,479 out of a budget of $11.4 million. That surplus will be used to reduce an accumulated deficit dating to the 2003 fiscal year, which was $790,000 at its peak and now stands at $209,000, according to the paper. The SPCO hopes to eliminate the remaining deficit by fiscal 2008.