In This Issue

message from amsov president

Helen Shaffer Houston Sytmphony Orchestra

"Music gives a soul to the universe,
wings to the mind,

flight to the imagination and
life to everything" - Plato

  

As we begin the New Year, we stop to reflect on those values near and dear to us. I trust that the importance of our symphonic music is at the top of your list. The AMSOV mission statement says it all -  "to ensure the continued existence of major symphony orchestras in North America through volunteerism."

 

Our brochure states that we support our orchestras through effective volunteerism by:

• Developing and training leaders;
• Networking and sharing best practices;
• Serving as community ambassadors for our orchestras.

On May 16 through May 19, 2013, AMSOV will hold its 39th Biennial Conference. The Conference offers excellent opportunities to share the needs of our orchestras. How can we be better ambassadors and see that this fine art form is carried into our communities reaching our diverse populations? How do we creatively raise the necessary funds that secure the sustainability of our orchestras. How do we keep our own volunteer organizations growing?

 

It is my belief that people need nourishment artistically and culturally to survive difficult times. We hope you have the AMSOV Conference as a part of your New Year resolutions. The personal growth you will experience and the valuable ideas you will take home will benefit both you and your orchestra.

 

REGISTER TODAY FOR AMSOV 2013 CONFERENCE

Be a great conductor ... of Meetings

The 11 Keys to running a successful meeting

   

Karen Hardcastle, AMSOV 2013 Biennial Conference Coordinator

Kansas City Symphony

 

Planning and running meetings is like being a conductor, because you are really orchestrating the efforts of others. But meetings often don't go perfectly, so we must redirect people. If you do this thoughtlessly, you will just look like a crazy person waving your arms!

                      

Here are a few things to think about for the meetings you conduct. These eleven things will help people work harmoniously, and the results will be music to your ears.

 

Provide a Clear, Compelling Agenda

Always provide an agenda - in advance! People need time to think and prepare, especially if you focus the agenda on what we must accomplish in the meeting.

 

One Conversation at a Time

There should only be one meeting going on. "Side meetings" are distracting and undermine the agenda.

 

Personal Preferences are for Personal Time

People must be objective about what needs to be done. If too many personal preferences creep in, people lose focus. Conflict usually arises from subjective personal opinions.

 

Written Reports Help People

When updates are needed, written reports prevent "wandering." People are more objective when they write their ideas down first.

 

Be a Strategist

Keep the "big picture" in mind, especially on hard problems. What are we really here to accomplish?

 

Seek Performance over Popularity

It is not about YOU! It is not about being liked. It is about what must be done. It may feel uncomfortable, or awkward, but you must focus people on RESULTS.

 

Be a Conductor

You must keep people on track. Never be afraid to ask people to address side issues at another time.

 

Respect People's Time

Start and finish on time. Keep the meeting moving. It's not fair to ask for people's contributions, and then waste their time.

 

Deal with Dysfunction

If heated debate occurs, let both parties speak, but don't let it get personal. Be brave. Never let an attacked person flounder.

 

Raise the Bar

At the end of the meeting, set clear expectations of what must be accomplished next. Give specific deadlines.

 

Be Grateful

Take the time to thank people for their efforts, contributions and time.

 

why i attend amsov conferences -
to keep beautiful music in our cities

 Pictured is the Los Angeles delegation to the 2011 Conference, held in Houston, Texas. Every orchestra's delegation is photographed by a professional photographer prior to the opening night banquet. 

_______________________________________________________________

 

I'm so ethusiastic and supportive of this great organization. First of all, we are all volunteers (no staff), which means, "There isn't anything you can't do if you don't care who gets the credit." So we have survived for 75 years because our members are dedicated and willing to work in the trenches. The benefits to everyone are well worth it. We help keep beautiful music in our cities.

 

AMSOV delegates represent just the major symphony orchestras, so we share common experiences - both positive and negative. This is a challenging time economically for orchestras, making it especialy important for volunteers to keep current and support them in the most efficient way. We are a relatively small Conference, so the intimacy and networking become ongoing. You are bound to come home with at least one good, new idea in fundraising, membership, and/or leadership skills that you will implement when you get home - and friendships that will last forever.

 

As a big bonus, you will get well acquainted with a city that you might not know well now, which increases your perspective on appreciating the diversity of all kinds that we enjoy in our country. Best of all, I guarantee you will have FUN, which is what really keeps us going (this will be my 16th Conference).

 

I hope to see many of you in Kansas City. I guarantee you'll be happy you came.

 

www.amsov.org

  

consider PRE-CONFERENCE TOURs

 

  

    

Truman Home in Independence, Missouri

    

Margaret Truman with singing coach Helen Traubel, November 25, 1949

  

If any Conference attendee arrives early in Kansas City, a visit to the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum is possible. www.trumanlibrary.org

  

The Kansas City hosts have arranged a tour and charter bus transortation to the site from the Conference hotel. Interested? On page 3 of your Conference registration form, you can select from three various tours and include the payment in your total registration cost for the AMSOV 2013 Biennial Conference.  

 

  

Conference attendees who arrive early or stay after the Conference can find a host of things to do in Kansas City. 

  

The Conference Hotel, The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, has extended the Conference rate to a few days prior and after the Conference. To book a room, click www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/amsov  On the web site, click Testimonials; then RESERVE.

  

The Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association lists Top 10 Reasons to Visit Kansas City in 2013 on its web site Visit Kansas City .

  

VOLUNTEERS WIN GOLD BOOK AWARDS

CONGRATULATIONS

  

The Volunteer Council of the League of American Orchestras announced the winners of its 2011-2012 Gold Book Online Awards of Excellence. Congratulations to AMSOV members who won this League honor.

  

USA  

Boston Symphony Association of Volunteers won a Gold Book Award for the Tanglewood Family Fun Fest that attracted 2,400 attendees with its family-friendly activities. (See AMSOV eNEWS, Summer 2012.)

  

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Association won a Gold Book Award for its many innovations to a traditional gala and success at raising money for the orchestra.

  

Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates won a Gold Book Award for a Fundraising Workshop that improved the fundraising capabilities of their member committees. (See related article in this eNEWS.)

  

Canada  

Comite des benevoles de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montreal won a Gold Book Award for its Mon coeur est un violin project that elevated a painted violin project to a new level and combined it with a gala ball.  

  

education news from our volunteers

 

Volunteers in the League of the Chicago Symphony Association are engaged in a very active Docent Program, coordinated by Sarah Good, a former music teacher and band director. She has served as a docent for 10 years, and she considers it a privilege to be part of this enthusiastic and dedicated group of people.

 

Good says, "My first classroom visit was the pilot of our Symphony Links Program. I was thrilled to get back into a classroom.

Sarah Good

I had missed the fun of being around young people who are so open to learning new things."  

 

The League docents offer classroom support for the educational concerts given by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. These include Very Special Promenade (VSP) concerts for Kindergarten - 3^rd grade and special needs students as well as Youth Concerts for 4 - 8^th grades. The Docent Program also supports the volunteers' Symphony Links Program which provides a visit by a Civic Orchestra MusiCorps ensemble, three classroom visits by a docent and culminates in a Youth or VSP concert performance.

 

Since the music and content of each educational concert is different, each presentation the docent prepares is also unique. To help docents prepare, the Docent Program provides lectures and training presentations, resource materials, small instruments and a few orchestra instruments that can be taken into the classrooms for the children to see and hear. "As you can imagine," says Good, "It takes creativity, time and preparation to be a docent, not to mention a love of music and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra."

 

A docent in the classroom expands students' knowledge of music.

 

This season, the League volunteers have seven new docents-in-training. "We call them "DITs", say Good, "which they laugh about." In addition to attending the same lectures as the active docents, the docents-in-training attend training classes and observe active docents in the classroom, to help them prepare for their final audition into the program. Good adds, "The lectures, training and observation opportunities we provide help to ensure that they are successful in the classroom when they become active docents."

 

During the 2011-12 season, the Docent Program made presentations to more than 4,000 students in the Chicago area. Together, the docents total 129 years of docent experience. 

  

The Women's Committee of The Cleveland Orchestra has long supported the Orchestra's education programs for children and youth. It encourages people in  Greater Cleveland to participate in Music Study Groups designed for adults and offered during this 2012-13 season.

Franz Welser-Most conducts The Cleveland Orchestra.

 

Rose Breckenridge, with a Ph.D. degree in music from Case Western Reserve University, leads the Musc Study Group classes. She is an administrator and lecturer with The Cleveland Orchestra.

  

Music Study Groups meet throughout Greater Cleveland at convenient community locations and offer flexibility for busy adults. Registrants may choose a series and the parts of the series that best fit their schedules and select from fall, winter, and/or spring options. Special services for persons with vision loss are offered at all locations. The vision loss services are supported by The Cleveland Orchestra's Alice B. Cull Memorial Fund and the Cleveland Sight Center. 

 

Prices for the 1-Part, 2-Part, and 3-Part Series range from $50 to $100. Interested persons start by requesting a registration form from The Cleveland Orchestra's office. 

  

 Designed for both new and experienced music lovers, the Music Study Groups follow The Cleveland Orchestra's subscription concerts schedule at Severance Hall. Participants explore current concert works through informal lectures, listening, and discussion with other music fans.

 

 

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is committed to training the next generation of music supporters through active participation in music learning. The DSO's training programs seek to supplement music education in the schools while filling a gap where programs do not exist.

 

The impact of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Education programs is measured in two distinct categories: training and exposure. During the 2012-13 season, DSO Civic Youth Ensembles and collaborators will engage 1,200 students and expose 69,500 students through educational presentations and Soundcards.

The DSO Exposure activities, including DSO education concert presentations, seek to inspire and develop long-term interest in the live concert experience. Exposure activities increase the recognized value of the DSO to the community while sparking long-term relationships with patrons and future donors. The DSO exposure activities are measured by the number of patrons that attend live DSO educationally based concert experiences such as the Educational Concert Series, Young People's Concerts, and in-school concerts.

 

The DSO Soundcard, an all-access student pass, enables students to attend unlimited Classical, Pops and Jazz concerts throughout the season. The Soundcard serves as a measurable platform in which students can transform into patrons. The Soundcard is measured through the number of cards distributed/sold and the rate of utilization throughout the season.

For fiscal year 2013 year-to-date, the DSO has engaged 1,352 students in the Civic Youth Ensemble and collaboration programs, surpassing the goal of 1,200. The number of students attending DSO educationally-based concert experiences has reached 20,300 students (toward the goal of 69,500); and 1,086 Soundcards have been distributed (against a goal of 1,000).

Grand Rapids Symphony Women's Committee

kansas city symphony volunteers

Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates

 

Education and fundraising merged in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates' recent educational workshop on fundraising. It kicked off with a presentation of the LA Phil's 2012-13 season by Vice President of Development Scott Showalter.

VP Scott Showalter displays the Grammy Award won by the LA Philharmonic.

 

If volunteers are subscribers and they are already coming to LA Phil concerts, then they are passionate about music, ascertained Showalter. Therefore, keeping abreast of artistic programming will give volunteers another tool to build connections with potential donors.

 

"Next time you Affiliates hold a fundraising event or have a conversation with a potential donor or member, refer to the sense of ownership that comes with knowing you support the future of orchestral music," said Showalter.

 

Showalter detailed the 2012-13 season's artistic programming. The Mozart/da Ponte Trilogy includes a production of The Marriage of Figaro with sets designed by Pritzker-Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel and costumes by couturier Azzedine Alaia. Peter Sellars produces the fully-staged production of John Adams' new oratorio, The Gospel According to the Other Mary, and another staged production is Oliver Knussen's one-act opera Where the Wild Things Are. In a bi-coastal collaboration with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the LA Phil  focuses on the contributions of Brooklyn artists to American music. The LA Phil offers several short series of concerts dedicated to exploring the work of a single composer or group of related composers.

J. S. Bach

 

The season will witness the launch of two multi-year projects: a three-year exploration of Beethoven's piano works performed by Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, and a two-season investigation of the complete keyboard work of Bach by pianist Andras Schiff. The LA Phil continues to support one of the largest commissioning programs in the country, and the Orchestra makes a March tour of London, Paris, Lucerne and New York City.

 

"These projects," said Showalter, "exemplify the LA Phil's ability to work simultaneously on a local, national and international stage, connecting communities through ambitious artistic programming and educational offerings grounded in a desire to make the transformative power of music available to all."

 

The vice president further explained that the LA Phil could not succeed in its ambitious artistic goals without the support of patrons like the LA Phil Affiliates. He stated, "Ticket sales only cover a portion of our budget, hence the importance of your support as fundraisers and ambassadors as you contribute toward 25 percent of the $100 million plus budget."

  

Following his presentation, the volunteers and the Development Department staff began a roundtable workshop; that is, the volunteers remained seated at round tables, and the staff made their presentations, moving from table to table.  

Coordinator Sheri Gill and Affiliate Chair Aida Gaona,Workshop Leaders

 

 Two volunteers with extensive experience in fundraising, Sue Clauss (Valley CommitteeS) and Ann Ehrenciou (Peninsula Committee), shared their tips on fundraising and solicited ideas from other committee volunteers.

 

The luncheon offered a time for the committee volunteers to become acquainted with their assigned fundraising mentors from the LA Phil's Development Department.

 

The workshop concluded with a group discussion of lessons learned and ideas shared by the participants and LA Phil staff.

 

 

 

Comite des benevoles de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montreal /Montreal Symphony Orchesta Volunteer association 

  

ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY VOLUNTEER  ASSOCIATION

  

Association of Major Symphony Orchestra Volunteers (AMSOV) | 562-493-6031 | helen@shaffer.com | http://www.amsov.org
5301 Shady River Dr.
Houston, TX 77056