Missouri Classical Music News and Notes

The Kansas City Symphony came under pressure this week to withdraw a lawsuit against the state of Missouri.

Six statewide arts groups signed a letter asking the Symphony to reconsider its position because they feared Gov. Matt Blunt would cut all arts funding from his Jan. 24 budget proposal.

Kyna Iman, lobbyist for one of the groups, Missouri Citizens for the Arts, asked the Symphony to drop its lawsuit after a Wednesday conversation with a deputy chief of staff in the governor’s office.

Iman said the argument coming from the governor’s office is simple: Why appropriate funds that may be tied up in litigation for years?