ISO pauses season, ends lease at downtown hub

Slow ticket sales and significant financial challenges have prompted the International Symphony Orchestra (ISO) to temporarily pause the 2025-2026 concert season and end its downtown Sarnia lease.

The decision was announced on Thursday, stating the organization cannot continue operating under its current model.

ISO, which is now in its 68th year, brings symphonic music to audiences in Sarnia-Lambton and St. Clair County, Michigan. However, its opening concert of the season, Music in Motion, had not sold more than 15 per cent of the available capacity.

The ISO Board of Directors said with reserves nearly depleted and limited sponsor or donor revenue, the organization is going to focus on restructuring for long-term survival.

“While this decision was not made lightly, the board believes this short-term step back will allow us to take two steps forward,” said the ISO Board of Directors in a media release. “Our artists are the heart of the ISO, and we are working diligently to rebuild as quickly as possible so that we can return to sharing the music that defines the cultural spirit of our twin communities.”

Imperial Theatre and Theatre Sarnia Executive Director Brian Austin Jr. is also a member of the ISO Board of Directors. He said, based on a similar situation in Kitchener-Waterloo, he believes it's possible to change strategies and rebuild in order to come back stronger.

Moving forward, the board said it's working with Sarnia's Imperial Theatre to produce fundraising concerts over the coming year to help support the symphony’s renewal.

Austin Jr. said those plans are in the working stages.

"We are looking at developing a larger audience base and maybe performing works that are a bit more recognizable and popular," he said. "I think that a lot of people just don't realize that they like symphonic music. Part of our job as a board moving forward is to expose them to works that they might recognize and then trick them into liking the stuff that they don't know about."

ISO is also planning to revitalize its education and outreach programs.

"We are also doing El Sistema, which is violin training for underprivileged kids," said Austin Jr. "That was put on pause, I believe, over the last few seasons, but we're going to bring it back later this month and host it at the Imperial Theatre."

Also, as a result of this shift, ISO has terminated its lease at 170 Christina St., known as the ISO Bar.