Finance profiles MI

David Rupp

Financial Manager (volunteer)
Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra
Saginaw, Michigan
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Years in current position: 5
Years in the field: 5

Majors:
Accounting and Business

Career Path:
City of Saginaw: Controller, Accountant, Account Clerk

What are the most surprising, interesting or challenging aspects of your day-to-day work?
It has been rewarding to see the progress that has been made.  There is never enough money and it takes a major effort to find new sponsors and contributors every year!

What inspired you to work for an orchestra?
To provide financial and accounting expertise to a struggling orchestra and keep me busy after I retired at age 50.

What advice would you offer to someone considering the orchestra field?
Work hard, learn as much as possible, and ask questions about the way things are done.
It is not going to pay very well, so you have to do it because you love the music and you believe that others will benefit from the experience of attending a symphony concert.

Any other advice?
It takes a lot of hard work and effort from dedicated volunteers to keep a symphony orchestra in the black each year. It is so much tougher these days to compete for contributor’s dollars. If you believe in the power of the music, you need to get others to believe as well. Symphonic music still has a place in today’s society, no matter where you live!