As reported by the Las Vegas Business Press: “Las Vegas’ casino industry
sets the pace for people’s entertainment dollars, but when it comes to
supporting symphony orchestras, it may be trailing the pack. “When J.L. Nave
III was executive director of the orchestra in Baton Rouge, La., he was able
to count on the city’s riverboat casinos for an influx of funds. “.Similar
largesse is apparently not to be had from Vegas’ casinos. Slot giant IGT has
given the Las Vegas Philharmonic $3,000 some years. Boyd Gaming, whose
former president, Don Snyder, is heading up the drive to build a performing
arts center, is rumored to have donated $5,000, and Harrah’s Entertainment
has ponied up a like amount. Both Snyder and Harrah’s communications czar,
Jan Jones, are among those casino execs whose ears LVPO Executive Director
Philip Koslow has found sympathetic.

“The MGM Voice Foundation has given $1,250 toward the youth concert series
with which LVPO Music Director Hal Weller and Koslow hope to cultivate the
audience of tomorrow. Of casino industry support in general, Koslow said,
‘we’re working to cultivate that to be more substantial.’

“In-kind support is coming in the form of hotel rooms that MGM Mirage will
be donating for the 2006-07 season, Weller’s last as music director. As in
Baton Rouge, personal ties facilitated other in-kind donations. The
Tropicana Hotel & Casino supplied room nights when LVPO supporter Barbara
Gomes was on its board. Philharmonic co-founder Susan Tompkins’ late
husband, Andy, was an owner of the Lady Luck hotel-casino downtown, which
did the LVPO’s bookkeeping in the orchestra’s early years.”