The Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra is destined to play its last ever concert on Friday evening thereafter a new group which is funded by Guildford Borough Council will be formed instead.

For 68 years there has been a funding agreement in place between Guildford Borough Council and Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra, which the council have scrapped as part of cost-saving cut backs.

Executive members of the council decided to endeavour to save £90,000 a year by instead offering a classical music grant of up to £60,000. It is understood that any organisation can apply for this grant.

Unfortunately this means that two members of staff at Guildford Borough Council will be losing their jobs. Seven organisations have put bids in and the council will decide whom to award the grant of up to £60,000 a year for the next 3 years.

“We will no longer directly employ staff in relation to classical music provision. We are currently working through the required process with directly affected staff.”

It is expected that this change will save the council circa £90,000 a year after it was claimed that the ticket subsidy for the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra was considered poor value for money for the tax payer.