January 22, 2015

Soon to Hit Your Inboxes!

Here's your chance! Let your voice be heard because we listen and act. ACSO's biennial Survey of Members and Friends will hit your inbox this week. We look forward to hearing from YOU!

Photo Credit: Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle

Happy Birthday MTT!

San Francisco Symphony music director Michael Tilson Thomas turned 70 in December and to celebrate last week the Symphony threw a party to celebrate his birthday and his 20th year as music director. MTT wore special attire for the occasion-a blue sport jacket with his initials in sequins on the back, and bars of embroidered music down the sleeves.

Essentials of Orchestra Leadership Comes to California

ACSO is pleased to co-sponsor the League of American Orchestra's "Essentials of Orchestra Leadership" coming to California in July 7-16, 2015. This intense 10-day orchestra leadership program will take place on the USC campus and is co-directed by Brent Assink, executive director of the San Francisco Symphony and Deborah Rutter, president of the Kennedy Center. Faculty will include the LA Philharmonic's Deborah Borda and members of her staff, Ken Foster of USC, and members of the San Francisco Symphony. For information and details on applying to this program, click here.

New NEA Reports on Arts Audiences & The Economy

Last week the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) released three new reports on arts participation and the contribution to the economy by the arts. Among the findings were the statistics that in 2012 only 33% of Americans had attended a "benchmark" arts performance, the most common reason people do not attend arts events is a lack of time, and there are 4.7 million workers in the arts and culture sector. Click here to read the reports in their entirety.

The James Irvine Foundation also released a report in partnership with NORC to analyze the California data from the NEA survey. This report found that attendance at arts-related events has fallen and that arts audiences do not reflect California's diversity. Click here to download A Closer Look at Arts Engagement in California.

Business Mileage Deductions

The IRS has raised its rates for business mileage to 57.5 cents/mile in 2015, up from 56 cents/mile in 2014. Additionally, volunteers who itemize on their tax returns can deduct unreimbursed mileage at the amount of 14 cents/mile and other costs related to volunteer work such as fares for trains, buses and taxis or costs for home fundraisers. Read More.

Inspire a New Piece of Music for OC

The Pacific Symphony invites the people of Orange County to contribute to a new composition for "OC in Unison," a project created to engage the community in music creation. Composer-in-Residence Narong Prangcharoen will write the piece, scheduled to premiere on the Opening Night concerts of the 2015-16 season. To inspire the composer, the community can answer the questions, "What Makes Orange County home?" and "What unites the people of Orange County?" through any form of expression-story, song, dance, photography, art, video and social media-and submit them to the Symphony by emailing OCinUnison@pacificsymphony.org or using the hashtag #OCinUnison on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information read the full press release.

OC In Unison - Help Inspire a New Piece of Music!

Protect the Arts in the California Budget

Last week, Governor Brown released his proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, which reduces the state allocation for the California Arts Council (CAC) to $1.1 million down from $6 million this year. Overall, Governor Brown proposes a $4.9 million budget for the CAC with the majority of the money coming from federal coffers and donations. To help protect this important funding, please contact your legislators and other elected officials to advocate for the arts. Read more.

Musical Instrument Air Travel Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued final regulations to improve travel by air with musical instruments. The new rules require airlines to adequately accommodate musical instruments in their formal policies for checked and carry-on baggage, and to ensure that front-line airline personnel consistently apply the policies. The next crucial step will be for the airlines to adopt new policies, make them publicly accessible, and thoroughly train airline personnel. More information.

Source: League of American Orchestras

Welcome New ACSO Board Members

Cristine Kelly, executive director of Music in the Mountains since 2011, brings almost ten years of nonprofit experience to the ACSO Board. Prior to her position at Music in the Mountains, Cristine held the position of executive director at the Sierra Mentoring Partnership and Ama Foundation as well as serving as a principal at Inspiring Solutions for six years, an independent consulting practice working with nonprofits to achieve greater organizational effectiveness.

Nicola Reilly, director of development and marketing for the Carmel Bach Festival, previously held positions with Seattle Chamber Music Society, the Medieval Women's Choir and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Nicola is a classically trained violinist and has performed and toured with various rock bands including Mastodon and Sky Cries Mary.

Up and Down the Scale

Rachel Fine is stepping down as executive director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) to assume a new position at the DeVos Institute of Arts Management to develop the Institute's programs on the West Coast. Fine has been executive director LACO since 2010 and previously held positions at Los Angeles Children's Chorus, The Juilliard School, Santa Fe Opera, the Aspen Music Festival and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Rachel served on the ACSO Board of Directors from 2008-2014.

Julie Fry is stepping down as program officer of the Hewlett Foundation to assume the position as president & ceo of Cal Humanities. Julie managed a very large portfolio of more than 125 arts organizations, including a cluster of grantees focused on arts education policy and advocacy at the federal, state, county, and local levels.

Jessica Guideri has been appointed concertmaster for the Santa Barbara Symphony. Guideri also serves as associate concertmaster of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, associate concertmaster of the Eastern Music Festival, and assistant principal second violin of the Pacific Symphony. She performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, records for major motion picture and television soundtracks, and is featured on the Emmy-winning public television series the "All Star Orchestra," comprised of musicians from major orchestras around the country.

Music Notes

Music in the Mountains' film River Music was accepted into the 2015 Wild and Scenic Film Festival, one of the nation's premiere environmental and adventure film festivals. The film debuted on January 16 at the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. Following the session, MIM musicians performed excerpts from the film, all of which were composed by the subjects in the film. For more information on the project, click here.

River Music Trailer

The San Bernardino Symphony has received a $5,000 community grant from Edison International to sponsor its teen music enrichment programs. The programs include three offerings especially designed for middle- and high school-aged youth, and are grounded in academic and career-focused activities: Maestro in the Schools, Symphony Debs and Red Tie Associates, and annual concerts for schools. Click here for full descriptions of these programs.

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