Phoenix Symphony musicians host benefit concert after layoffs

The fundraiser tonight for the Phoenix Symphony and the 66 musicians losing their jobs. There are still many questions tonight over the survival of the symphony. And Jacob Luthi joins us live with the latest. Jacob. Yeah, Brian, good evening. Tonight's benefit concert is to help support those musicians because as you mentioned, they haven't been working for the past week, but it's also to thank the community that has stood by them during this uncertain time. Now, the musicians are expected to return to the stage next week after it was announced by the board last month that they were suspending its season. Musicians have been without pay since November 2nd, but after a spark Mark of new fundraising payments are expected to resume Monday and run through the end. The end of the year tonight's benefit concert is designed to recover those lost wages along with the costs of getting the musicians back on stage. Orchestra committee co-chair Bridget Pasker says the community has stepped up in a big way, but the work is far from over. We definitely need continued support from the community. There is still a very long road ahead, both financially, but also just rebuilding trust between the musicians and particularly our board. The thing that I think We can rely on from all parties involved is that we want this organization to continue and to be able to continue to serve this community. Now, as you can see here, tonight's benefit concert will be at the Monroe Street Abbey here in downtown Phoenix. It starts at 7 p.m. Oscar tells me that the musicians will continue to work with the board to try and make sure they continue fundraising so that they could continue playing through the end of their season, which ends in May. But as she had mentioned, a lot more work still need to be done. Reporting live in Phoenix tonight, Jacob Luthi, Fox 10 News.