The San Antonio Philharmonic has resolved several of the legal disputes that have followed the orchestra in recent years. The organization will pay a combined $232,000 by August 7: $215,000 to David Wood and Colette Holt, $10,000 to former board chair Ian Thompson III, and $7,000 to Philharmonic co-founder and French horn player Peter Rubins.

Background of the Dispute

The dispute began in September 2024, when Wood and Holt sued the Philharmonic, saying it had failed to repay a $150,000 loan to secure a collection of the former San Antonio Symphony’s orchestra instruments and its music library. The Philharmonic later filed counterclaims, and the case was combined with separate litigation over the orchestra’s board and governance.

After the payments are made, the lawsuits will be dismissed permanently. Sherry Rubins will also drop employment discrimination complaints filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Texas Workforce Commission, while Peter Rubins will withdraw a union complaint.

Philharmonic Executive Director Roberto Treviño said in a statement that the orchestra “reluctantly settled” because it was the responsible decision for its finances and donors. “Every dollar we didn’t spend on prolonged litigation is a dollar we can spend on the music,” he said.

Reaction to the Settlement

Wood and Holt said the Philharmonic will pay every dollar they sought and described the outcome as validation of concerns about the organization’s leadership, finances, and governance. “San Antonio deserves a great orchestra,” Wood and Holt said in a statement. “It also deserves transparency, accountability, competent governance, financial responsibility, and respect for the community that supports it.”

Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.