Editor's note: This story was updated on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. CST to include a statement from former San Antonio Philharmonic board member and plaintiff David Wood and Colette Holt.
The San Antonio Philharmonic is seeking more than $1 million in damages in a legal dispute over its future at the historic Scottish Rite Hall.
The building, owned by the San Antonio Scottish Rite Library and Museum, was intended to serve as the permanent home of the Philharmonic under a 2024 agreement.
Court filings show sharply different accounts of how that agreement broke down. The deal called for the two sides to jointly own and redevelop the downtown building.
The San Antonio Scottish Rite Library and Museum says the Philharmonic fell short of required funding tied to redevelopment and argues the deal is no longer in effect. On Jan. 5, the Scottish Rite asked a judge to clarify its ability to move forward with a sale on its own.
In a March 16 court filing, the Philharmonic said it upheld its obligations under the deal, arguing both sides continued operating under its terms into late 2025.
The Philharmonic said it fulfilled its commitments by raising at least $750,000 and investing in improvements, including temporary HVAC systems, repairs and accessibility planning, with the expectation the building would become its long-term home.
It also said the Scottish Rite acknowledged in April 2025 that the fundraising threshold had been met.
The Philharmonic alleges the Scottish Rite failed to follow through on its responsibilities, including transferring the property into the jointly controlled entity, providing financial account information, and moving forward with required appraisals.
The dispute is the latest chapter in a turbulent period for the orchestra.
The San Antonio Philharmonic was formed in 2022 after the San Antonio Symphony, a longtime resident company at the Tobin Center, declared bankruptcy and ceased operations following a labor dispute that halted performances.
The Philharmonic was created by the orchestra’s musicians to continue professional symphonic music in San Antonio, but has since faced challenges securing stable funding. It then operated without a permanent venue, performing at First Baptist Church before pursuing a long-term home at the Scottish Rite. That agreement later broke down, and the Scottish Rite moved to evict the orchestra in November.
The organization has faced ongoing instability in recent years, including venue challenges and litigation involving former board members over who has legal authority to govern it, as well as disputes related to loans and financial contributions.
“Recent developments have only reinforced our longstanding concern that these important cultural assets lack the stable and responsible stewardship that they require,” said former board member and plaintiff David Wood and Colette Holt in a statement to TPR.
The Philharmonic lost its music director, Jeffrey Kahane, who stepped down earlier this year, and has faced performance cancellations. The instability has also affected audiences in San Antonio, which is among the largest U.S. cities without consistent access to a full-time professional orchestra.
For its part, the orchestra says a long-term home is critical to its financial stability.
The San Antonio Philharmonic declined to comment beyond its legal filings. The San Antonio Scottish Rite Library and Museum did not respond to a request for comment. The case is ongoing in Bexar County district court.
