Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 21, 1991 TAG: 9104210156
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LEESBURG LENGTH: Short
A dozen musicians have boycotted rehearsals of the 60-member group after a follower of political extremist Lyndon LaRouche was voted off the orchestra board last week.
Emotions have run high about LaRouche since he moved to a fortified estate in the county in the 1980s and began announcing his theories of conspiracy involving the CIA and the Queen of England.
LaRouche is serving a 15-year prison term for conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion.
LaRouche backers claim orchestra board member Kathy Wolfe was removed because she is a follower of LaRouche.
Michael Lonneke, president of the orchestra, said Wolfe was voted out because she made it appear as though the orchestra was connected to LaRouche.
At the orchestra's first performance last month, the program included a note giving "special thanks" to a LaRouche group, the Schiller Institute, for a financial contribution. Lonneke said Wolfe was responsible for the note.
The board chose to oust Wolfe after Lonneke threatened to quit.
"I had a number of people say, `What is the deal? Is LaRouche paying your bills?' " Lonneke said. "I'm not going to put my personal integrity on the line and have people associate me with an organization like this."
Wolfe's removal prompted board member David Shavin and his wife, Nancy, a musician, to resign.
by CNB