Within days of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the League of American Orchestras started hearing reports from throughout the field about orchestras’ efforts to help with the dire situation in that country. We think it’s important to share what our field is doing in this time of crisis. The League will be tracking the orchestra community’s response to this disaster on The Hub and in other appropriate communications. This list will be updated regularly, with most recent items at the top, and is not meant to be comprehensive.
Please let us know about any activities that your orchestra is engaging in to aid survivors. Contact John Bence, director of public relations at the League, with information concerning your Japan relief efforts at jbence@americanorchestras.org.
Hartford Symphony Orchestra – On April 9, musicians from the orchestra will perform a Japan Earthquake Relief Charity Concert at the Unitarian Meeting House in West Hartford. Organized by Ruriko Kagiyama and her husband, HSO Principal Viola Michael Wheeler, all proceeds from the concert will go to American Red Cross relief effort in Japan.
Mannes College Musicians for Japan – Musicians from Mannes College-The New School of Music in New York City will perform a special free concert on April 6, at which the audience will have the opportunity to donate to the Japan Society’s Earthquake Relief Fund.
One World Symphony – All proceeds from the New York-based orchestra’s April 3 concert will go to American Red Cross relief for Japan.
Stamford Symphony Orchestra – From its April 1 concert, the Connecticut-based orchestra will donate $30,000—the face value of the tickets—to the American Red Cross.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra – A significant portion of the orchestra’s March 31-April 3 concerts will benefit Sendai, Dallas’s International Friendship City and the closest major city to the earthquake’s epicenter.
San Francisco Symphony – All the orchestra’s concerts from March 28 to April 2 are dedicated to the people of Japan. Prior to each concert, the Red Cross and the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California are collecting donations in the lobby of Davies Hall, where members of the orchestra perform chamber music.
Cleveland Orchestra – At the March 28 benefit concert, the audience’s donations were given to Japan Platform, a coalition of 32 organizations providing humanitarian aid.
Phoenix Youth Symphony – At its March 26 concert, the orchestra was joined by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Opera Orchestra, University of Arizona School of Music students and professors, and other professional musicians from Tucson and Phoenix. Donations amounted to $11,541, and 100 percent of the money is being sent to Japan Red Cross.
Symphony Orchestra Augusta –The SOA raised over $10,000 for the American Red Cross from its March 18 pops concert and March 25 and 26 Symphony Series concerts. Among the partner organizations for the benefit concerts were the U.S. Army Signal Corps Band and Augusta State University.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra – The CSO’s March 25 and 26 concerts were dedicated to the people of Japan, and patrons were encouraged to support relief efforts by giving to the Red Cross.
Seattle Symphony – The orchestra accepted donations on behalf of Save the Children at its March 24 and 26 concerts.
California Youth Symphony – Funds were solicited for Japan relief at the orchestra’s March 19 concert.
New York Philharmonic – The orchestra’s March 17 performance at Avery Fisher Hall featured the last-minute addition of Takemitsu’s Requiem for String Orchestra, performed in honor of the people of Japan. The Philharmonic made a recording of the performance available for download through InstantEncore and other online music stores, with proceeds going to benefit relief efforts for Japan.
Philadelphia Orchestra – The orchestra collected donations for the American Red Cross at its March 17, 18, and 19 concerts.
Posted March 30, 2011
