“Two Tallahassee nonprofits are among the recipients of Duke Energy grants to the arts and culture groups statewide,” writes Ryan Daily in Wednesday’s (7/20) Tallahassee Democrat (Florida). Duke Energy Foundation donated $15,000 to the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and $10,000 to Refuge House Inc. of the Big Bend, “in an effort to ‘help enhance community vitality.’ … For TSO, the grant money will allow them to reach the ears of what could be their favorite audience demographic – students. ‘We wrote the grant specifically to be able to offer a free concert to fourth and fifth graders from neighboring counties,’ said Mandy Stringer, CEO of the TSO. ‘Kids will be bussed over to Tallahassee from Jefferson, Gadsden and Wakulla counties. Many of these children probably don’t have music programs in their schools, and may not be exposed to music in that way.’ Stringer said the concerts are composed by TSO’s star conductor Darko Butorac … ‘He has written a series of concerts for children and families that have humor for all ages.… Each one of them has a specific theme to it; one was an alien invasion; one had a superhero theme,’ Stringer said. The upcoming theme will be ‘pirates.’ ”
Posted July 22, 2016
