In Sunday’s (12/5) Charlotte Observer (North Carolina), Steven Brown writes, “When arts groups have a moment to think beyond merely surviving the recession, their attention may turn to young people. Without the culture lovers of the future, a dead end lies ahead. The question is: How can you reach out to young people when you’re struggling to survive? For the Charlotte Symphony and Opera Carolina, the answer is coming from the Duke Energy Foundation. The foundation is giving the groups a total of $75,000 to help win over young people to music and opera. … The Duke money will subsidize low-cost student tickets to concerts and operas. It will also: Help Opera Carolina take a children’s opera to elementary schools, filling part of the gap left by budget cuts at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; Send Charlotte Symphony musicians into schools to coach band and orchestra players; Help Opera Carolina teach teenagers about singing, acting and other skills. … The Charlotte Symphony took $12 for tickets that could’ve brought in $60 or more at full price, says Meg Whalen, orchestra director of community engagement. That’s because the orchestra hasn’t simply been stashing the students in the cheap seats. ‘We want them to have a good experience and feel connected to what’s happening onstage,’ Whalen says.”
Posted December 6, 2010
