ACSO Semiquavers Banner NEW
happy-holidays-header4.jpg

The ACSO Board and Staff hopes that you all have a very Happy Holiday
season and sends best wishes for a prosperous 2015!


Message from ACSO President Debbie Chinn


 


Dear Colleagues, 

 

As we wrap up 2014, I wanted to send you a brief note of thanks on behalf of the ACSO Board of Directors for enlivening our communities with music, education, conversation, exploration and engagement through all of your wonderful programs during the past year. As Board President, I am eager to travel throughout the state to meet with our members, to champion your efforts, and to learn more about how ACSO can offer resources and support. I have already had inspiring visits with the Eureka Symphony Orchestra and the Mendocino Music Festival, and will be traveling to the San Bernardino Symphony in March and the Las Vegas Philharmonic (yes, we have ACSO members from Nevada!) in April.
 

I have come away with these meetings even more grateful and in awe of the conviction of our ACSO members to forge new ways for people to be active participants in our work and for building a tighter and wider community through classical music. There are many incredible success stories and we will share these with you in our ACSO webinars, via Semiquavers, and at our August Annual Conference.

 

'Tis the season to be grateful for so much and the ACSO Board of Directors join me in wishing you much good cheer and merriment during the holidays and well into the new year.


All best,


 


 

 
December 22, 2014
 


Twitter Logo
 FB Logo



CAC License





Sent twice-monthly, Semiquavers is an e-newsletter designed to inform the classical music community about the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO), its member organizations and other important news in the field.
To learn more about ACSO, visit the website. 
 

NEA Awards $29 Million for Arts Projects

  

Congratulations to the following ACSO members receiving an award from the NEA for the first round of 2015 funding. 


Art Works

Colburn School

Concert Artists Guild

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Music Academy of the West

Oakland East Bay Symphony

Ojai Music Festival

Pacific Symphony

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

San Francisco Symphony

 

Challenge America

San Bernardino Symphony 

 

For a complete list of grants click here.

 
Give the Gift of the Arts this Holiday Season
 

There's a new, easy, and tax-deductible way to support arts education and arts programs this holiday season. The California Arts Council has rolled out its Arts Plate voucher program that allows the California Arts Plate to be given as a gift. Recipients can use the voucher to fully cover their purchase of the Arts Plate, which will directly support California arts education and local arts programs. To learn more and purchase vouchers, visit www.artsplate.org.
 

 
The Making of a Pops Concert

  

Ever wanted to see the making of a pops concert? This fun 3-minute video shows how a Long Beach Symphony Pops Concert is created from start to finish.

 
Welcome New ACSO Board Member

John Mangum, president and artistic director of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, has joined ACSO as its newest Board member. Magnum previously worked as director of artistic planning at the San Francisco Symphony for three years, as vice president for artistic planning of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, as artistic administrator of the New York Philharmonic, and held positions at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. John was a 2014 ACSO Conference speaker - look forward to hearing again from him in the future.
 
Music Notes
 

The Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra has been chosen by the Ventura County Arts Council to receive the 2014 Arts Stars Award, Nonprofit Organization Serving the Community. Now in its 54th concert season, the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra serves over 250 musicians and consists of three levels of orchestras and other ensembles. 


Former Board president of the
Los Angeles Philharmonic, David Bohnett, is donating $20 million to the orchestra with half of it going to endow the top leadership position currently held by Deborah Borda. Bohnett's pledge was made in recognition of Borda's successful tenure.
 

The Redlands Symphony recently received a $100,000 challenge matching grant from the Quest Foundation to help it sustain its music education programs for young people. The Symphony will receive one dollar from Quest for every two dollars it raises through August 4, 2015. At least $200,000 must be raised by the symphony to claim the full $100,000 match. 

 

In honor of its 70th anniversary, the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory will tour China in June and July 2015. The tour will include performances in Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall, San Diego's sister city Yantai's Concert Hall and the Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai. 

 

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music will hold its first New Music Gathering January 15 to 17. The festival/conference is expected to be an annual event.  

 

Last weekend, the San Francisco Symphony unveiled its new concert space SoundBox, previously known as Zellerbach Hall. The experimental and alternative music space features the state-of-the-art Meyer Constellation sound system. 

 
ACSO Up and Down the Scale
 
Margaret Cafarelli has been elected chair of the Board of Directors for the Music Academy of the West. Cafarelli is a real estate executive and joined the board in 2009. She will succeed Robert Toledo as chair.



Eugene Izotov has been named principal oboe of the San Francisco Symphony, effective the 2015-16 season. He succeeds the late William Bennett. Izotov has been principal oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2006. Prior to that he served as principal oboe of the Metropolitan Opera.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra music director and pianist Jeffrey Kahane will join the faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music. Initially he will teach piano but will broaden his focus over time. Kahane will join the faculty part time in 2015 and will continue part time until he steps down from his LACO post in 2017. 

Cheryl Marvin has been appointed executive director for the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra. Previously business manager for the orchestra, Marvin works to promote performing arts throughout Ventura County.  




David Pratt has been appointed executive director of the Santa Barbara Symphony. Assuming his duties on March 2, 2015, Pratt, a native of Australia was most recently executive director of the Savannah Philharmonic. 

Alexander Treger will step down as music director  of the American Youth Symphony (AYS) at the end of its 50th Anniversary Season next spring. AYS will honor Treger for his 17 years of leadership at the Celebration Concert and Annual Gala on April 26, 2015, where he will lead the orchestra in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6.