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DocuSign Envelope ID:CCAB FAD D-DC42-494F-B573-EB427B62BCDO <br /> Project Director 9195994513 <br /> Phone <br /> Project Director Email susanbrunssen@gmail.com <br /> What are you Operational expense (arts organizations ONLY) <br /> requesting funding <br /> for? <br /> Request Summary Entering our 39th season, VOICES seeks operating funds of $3,000 to <br /> support the salary of our rehearsal accompanist, Shoko Abe, DMA. Dr. <br /> Abe is an Asian American. VOICES will provide the remaining $6,100 for <br /> her salary from operating revenue. <br /> Dr. Abe holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano (April <br /> 2018, University of North Texas), following degrees earned with high <br /> honors in piano performance from Fukushima University and Showa <br /> University of Music in Japan. Her resume is attached. <br /> Shoko Abe served as rehearsal accompanist in the 2018 and 2019 <br /> seasons. Dr. Abe has demonstrated exceptional abilities when leading <br /> sectionals, exceling as a collaborative pianist. <br /> Dr. Abe also serves as our concert keyboardist, demonstrating her <br /> ability to move seamlessly between piano and electronic keyboard, host <br /> guest pianists (Kevin Johnson, DMA in December 2018) and work with <br /> full orchestra. She has been joined in concert with Cantari twice this <br /> season by her husband, Robert Buxton, to play four-hand on Brahm's <br /> "Leibeslieder Waltzer" and Alice Parker's "Songstream". In June, Shoko <br /> was featured on Joan Szymko's "A Burst of Song". "Her performance of <br /> this intricate, difficult piece played a key role in the quality of musical <br /> expression achieved and in highlighting the text---it was not just an <br /> accompaniment" -Stephen Futrell. Unfortunately, neither of these <br /> concerts was recorded! <br /> Support from OCAC will enable VOICES and CANTARI choruses to <br /> rehearse and perform with a highly skilled accompanist in the 2020 <br /> season. <br /> Organizational Goals The two primary goals of Voices are first, to provide a setting for our <br /> members to enjoy singing, and second, to engage the community in the <br /> appreciation of cultural heritage embodied in music. Our financial goal <br /> for FY2020 is to maintain a balanced income:expense ratio and yield <br /> modest gains in operating reserves. <br /> Voices is a large community arts organization that strives for excellence <br /> in presenting multiple unique concerts each year in Orange County. Our <br /> organization places a high value on offering a very diverse and <br /> challenging repertoire which our members enjoy singing. We also strive <br /> to introduce new compositions or those infrequently performed in <br /> addition to more traditional choral repertoire. A highly skilled <br /> accompanist helps us achieve these goals in limited rehearsal time. <br /> Plans for the 2020 season are nearing completion. Voices will present <br /> four concerts: CANTARI's November concert will feature very early <br />