In Sunday’s (5/20) Post and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina), Bill Thompson writes, “For community orchestras, it is not simply a matter of filling the artistic gaps. They exist at least as much for part-time musicians to have an opportunity to perform as for the audiences who appreciate their efforts. Most of the players have day jobs not directly associated with music, though there are quite a few who teach professionally. But there are two things they do share with their larger professional brethren such as the Charleston Symphony Orchestra: the challenge of finding adequate funding in a precarious economy and an abiding love of orchestral music. … The Summerville Community Orchestra does not have its own performance venue, but rather uses Summerville Baptist Church and, beginning with the 2012-13 season, Northwood Baptist Church. … ‘In the last two years, major corporations have not been funding arts groups, and we’re all going through the same thing,’ says [Summerville Community Orchestra Executive Director Naomi] Nimmo. … ‘So we’re always looking at other ways to raise money. The standard for a good, well-balanced arts organization is 50 percent earned income (ticket sales) and 50 percent contributions. That’s what people hope for.’ ”
Posted May 21, 2012
