The ASO has accumulated an A$2.25 million deficit since it split from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1997, even though, as Uhrig told ABC, box office revenue has grown 80 percent over the last year. "The orchestra never would have had a deficit," Uhrig said, "if it had been as well-funded federally as its equivalents in the country. This has been the least well-funded orchestra in Australia.

Uhrig has been chair of the orchestra since 1997. Ladd, formerly the ASO's director of marketing, took over the post of CEO from Robert Clarke in September of 2003.