The Latest From Our Blog

Music Lover’s Almanac: March 18
posted by: Arthur Ryel-Lindsey, Communications Project Manager

ON THIS DATE one hundred years ago – American opera gained home-court advantage. Born in Newton, Mass., in 1871, Frederick Shepherd Converse was a quick study on the piano who ... More »

The Care, Feeding and Eradication of Earworms
posted by: Jeannie Mellinger, Director of Communications

Maybe it’s the theme from “Rocky.” Maybe it’s Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Maybe, we hope not for your sake, it’s the Disney “Small World” tune. Regardless of any musical merit, ... More »

Thoughts on the Rhine from 30,000 feet
posted by: Timothy Myers, guest conductor

12:45 a.m. South African time (already Monday), 6:45 p.m. Raleigh time (still Sunday). I’m 30,000+ feet in the air flying from Johannesburg - where I’ve been conducting a production of ... More »

Hippos Become Musicians
posted by: Jeannie Mellinger, Director of Communications

Saturday's New York Times published a funny, sweet, moving tribute to a New Jersey music teacher that is just too good not to share with our readers. Whether you are ... More »

From the creation of a volunteer orchestra in 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression to meeting the Ford Foundation’s $1 million challenge in 1966 that funded Dr. Benjamin and Maxine Swalin’s efforts to build a legacy of statewide service and music education, your Symphony has always embraced a challenge.

We now face an exciting challenge grant from the State of North Carolina legislature to generate $8 million in community support that will be matched with an additional $1.5 million state appropriation this season.


The Challenge:
To guarantee the total $1.5 million matching grant, the Symphony must meet three milestones by June 30, 2010. We have successfully generated $4 million in support from the community, which is halfway toward our matching requirement! Now we must meet the second milestone of $6 million to qualify for the second $500,000 and, lastly, we will receive the full matching grant amount of $1.5 million when we meet the third and final milestone of $8 million in community support.


Did you know?

• Musicians, conductors and staff members did their part to balance the budget through salary cuts and furloughs.
• Guest artists contracted for the 2009-2010 season agreed to perform with the North Carolina Symphony for reduced fees and, in some cases, to defer their appearances until future seasons.
• Violin virtuoso and guest artist Joshua Bell offered to come the evening before his scheduled performance to have dinner with and play a private concert in the home of the highest bidder of the Symphony’s fall 2009 auction.
• French pianists and guest artists Pascal and Ami Rogé played for free in Southern Pines and Raleigh rather than have Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos cancelled.
• The North Carolina Symphony performs 175 concerts annually in 40 NC counties for 250,000 people.
• Nearly one-fourth of the Symphony’s annual concerts are music education concerts played for 50,000 school children.

For more information on the state challenge, check out our blog post and the article in the News and Observer.

Read why Music Director Grant Llewellyn thinks that supporting the Symphony is critical.

Here’s what your fellow Symphony lovers have to say about their gifts:

• “A mere drop for such hefty needs. But many drops can a wave produce!” –Chapel Hill Patron
• “In this economy, we must decide what things are necessities and what are luxuries. To me, live music/symphony is not a luxury.” –Raleigh Patron
• “Those of us fortunate to be able to afford symphony tickets will continue to do our part, but … consider the children who might otherwise grow up in a state without being exposed to this wonderful experience.” –Southern Pines Patron
• I give because of “the great contribution the orchestra members make to the community.” –Chapel Hill Patron

For more information on how you can help your North Carolina Symphony meet the challenge, contact Mary McFadden Lawson, Vice President of Philanthropy, at 919.789.5476 or mlawson@ncsymphony.org.

State of North Carolina Funding-at-a-Glance
2009-2010

Amount                  Type                               Details
$2,307,742       Recurring               Originated in 1943 as a $2,000 appropriation called the
                                                             Horn Tootin’ Bill This amount is currently included in the
                                                             state budget on an annual basis.
$500,000          Non-recurring        Additional operating support awarded annually since FY2004.
                                                             We must make our case for this appropriation annually.
$1,500,000       Non-recurring        Additional operating support awarded for 2009-10 on a
                                                             matching/challenge basis
$4,307,742       Total