April 13--The Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, one of the area's leading classical music ensembles, will disband and cease operations following its season finale on May 17, the group announced on Monday.
The decision to call it quits after 20 years of concerts under founder and music director Alan Heatherington was made for personal rather than financial reasons, said Gayle Heatherington, the group's executive director, who is married to the conductor.
"We have now reached a time in our lives where we wish to pursue new directions and devote our energies elsewhere," the Heatheringtons said in a joint statement.
Orchestra musicians and audience members were told of the decision, made with the acqiuiesence of board president Robert Quigley, at the Ars Viva concert Sunday at the orchestra's venue, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, in Skokie.
In a followup phone call, Gayle Heatherington said subscriptions and contributions actually have been trending higher over the last few years, and that attendance for the current season has averaged just under 700, or about 80 percent of capacity.
Alan Heatherington said he will continue as music director of the Chicago Master Singers chorale. Following extensive theological studies the last several years, he expects to be ordained as an Anglican priest within the coming months, he added.
