|
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7E107417-F9E7-4B2F-A30A-B4D250909DD9
<br /> °CAC Grant Application for NIKI■CF,Sr Operating Ful tis
<br /> Program Narrative: Operating Funds Support for Retoarsal Accompanist
<br /> 1. Description of Organization
<br /> VOICES is one of the Triangle's oldest and most distinguished choral groups. Our Mission is"to foster,
<br /> sustain, and share the art and joy of choral music and to enrich the Triangle community through excellent
<br /> performances of music from diverse cultures and historical periods. VOICES members come from
<br /> diverse backgrounds that include graduate students, senior citizens„ and active professionals,
<br /> VOICES is a grassroots auditioned community chorus that is administered by a working board of 12
<br /> elected members. Paid staff is limited to our Artistic Director and rehearsal accompanists—all part time.
<br /> We raise funds through dues, donations, concert tickets, program ads, grants, and product sales.
<br /> Under the baton of Sue Klausrneyer, DMA, conductor and artistic director since 2000, VOICES
<br /> Symphonic Chorus" 100+ members perform two concerts a year; CANTARI„ our 25-member select
<br /> ensemble performs three concerts annually; and SUMMER VOICES, at 40+ members performs more
<br /> informal music biennially, Thus, VOICES presents five or six concerts every year to'Triangle audiences,
<br /> which collectively total close to 1,200,,
<br /> In line with our mission, programs span diverse cultures and periods, highlighting works by contemporary
<br /> and local composers infrequently available to our audience, For example, the 2017-2018 VOICES
<br /> Symphonic Chorus programs feature works by such American composers as Julian Wachner, Dan
<br /> Forest, Leo Nestor, and North Carolinian Dan Lock lair, CANTARI will perform French compositions and a
<br /> mass by Swiss composer Frank Martin, as well as a program of Handel. CANTARI finishes its current
<br /> season with Latin American Connections" presented with Sisters"Voices Girls" Choir with Emmanuel
<br /> Trail() on bandon,eon.
<br /> 2. Summary of proposed project:
<br /> As we enter our 37 h season, VOICES is seeking funds from Orange County Arts Commission to support
<br /> our operating budget for FY2017-18, Specificalleeyve requestA2,3e0 from OCAC to support half'the
<br /> salary of Mir rehearsal accom aniste Deborah Hollis. DMA for her work during the fall of 2017 and the
<br /> winter of 2018, A private donor will provide matching funds for the other half of her salary. ILetter of
<br /> commitment is attached as Appendix 1.)
<br /> 3. Project goal:
<br /> The goal of this project is to support the operating budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year VOICES is a large
<br /> community arts organization that strives for excellence in presenting 5-6 unique concert prcgrams each
<br /> year in Orange County. Our annual budgets average $85,000 7„000. We raise these funds through
<br /> dues, member donations, ad sales for our program, fundraisers, small grants, and a small group of loyal
<br /> external donors. (Data for FY2016, 2017 and 2018 are presented in Appendices 4-6.)
<br /> A limited number of venues can support the staging requirements of our large symphonic chorus and
<br /> orchestra, As can be seen from the attached fiscal data, FY2016 ended in a deficit due mainly to the
<br /> closure of Hill Hall for renovations, The loss of this economical venue resulted in both a significant
<br /> increase in costs for hall rental (Carolina Theatre of Durham) as well as a reduction in December ticket
<br /> sales because VOICES was limited by venue costs to one December concert instead of our usual
<br /> evening and matinee performances, This same problem is reflected in the FY201.7 budget. VOICES
<br /> ended FY2015 with a significant cash reserve and a small but growing endowment fund, VOICES begins
<br /> FY2018 with a reduced cash reserve but with the endowment fund intact and growing. The board is
<br /> positioning VOICES on a 3-year plan to recoup our reserves Seeking grant funding is part of that plan.
<br /> The support from OCAC and our donor will enable VOICES and CANTARI choruses to rehearse with a
<br /> skilled accompanist to prepare for our fall and winter concerts,
<br />
|