NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #3442 JACKSONVILLE, FL
FRIENDS OF THE SYMPHONY
JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY DONOR NEWSLETTER
300 WATER STREET, STE. 200 JACKSONVILLE, FL 32202
LISTEN.
LEARN.
SPRING 2021
CREATE.
DONATE.
FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO We are happy to be back after a brief hiatus with a new edition of our donor newsletter. This issue brings wonderful news and stories of our triumphs this season. I want to take this opportunity to thank you – our patrons – for your continued support. Thanks to your unwavering encouragement and donations, the Jacksonville Symphony was able to be one of only fourteen orchestras, out of 1,225 nationally, to perform live in a concert hall this season. Thank you also for following the safety guidelines and protocols which ensured that the musicians, staff, and your fellow audience members remained safe to enjoy our concerts.
JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY DONOR NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2021
Soon, you will be hearing about our very exciting 2021/22 Season. Your generosity supported us through so many changes this season, and again we say THANK YOU. We will continue to need your renewed support. Enjoy the Newsletter. Sincerely,
Steven B. Libman President/CEO
ENSURE YOUR LEGACY BY PLANNING YOUR GIFT TODAY. When you support the Symphony with a planned gift, you also join a special network of donors who share your love for symphonic music. Being a Cadenza Society Member means you are a supporter who made a future financial commitment to ensure the orchestra you love will be able to keep making vibrant music for future generations. Your gift can attract the best artistic talent, support one of our many educational programs, and make music accessible to everyone in the Jacksonville community. As a Cadenza Society Member, you will meet fellow members and gain access to exclusive symphony events throughout the season. We hope you join us with your planned gift. To join, contact Michelle Barth, our Associate Vice President of Advancement and External Affairs at mbarth@jaxsymphony.org.
CAD ENZA
SOCIETY
J A X S Y M P H O N Y. O R G 904.354.5477 300 Water Street, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32202
BE A PART OF OUR SOCIETY
If you need any assistance, please email Amanda at amanda@jaxsymphony.org. She is very excited to join the Symphony in its mission to enrich the human spirit through symphonic music. Her love of music started singing in choir and playing clarinet in her middle school band and expanded to a love of opera working at the Utah Opera Festival and Music Theatre in 2019. Her focus is on building relationships through the arts and she cannot wait to meet everyone who supports the Symphony. Amanda is a Gainesville native who is finishing her Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre Management at Florida State University. Before pursuing her passion of arts administration, she worked in costuming and wardrobe for much of her professional career. She worked as a dresser at Universal Studios Orlando working with franchises like Transformers and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Then, she travelled the world aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines.
AMANDA L. FRASER: THE NEW INDIVIDUAL GIVING MANAGER
Marketing ad? Board Updates? Something Else?
VIRTUALLY EXCELLENT: A SPECIAL 2021 ANNUAL GALA
IN MEMORY OF DR. FRANCES KINNE
We raised over $160,000 at our first ever virtual gala. Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors and those that tuned in to the live auction. There were 194 unique viewers and 231 views in the first 24 hours of the stream! We managed to persevere through the challenges to bring a truly amazing event to life. We look forward to next year when we can all celebrate together in person again.
This past May, the Symphony and Jacksonville community lost a pioneer of arts and culture, Dr. Frances Kinne. In 1961, she founded the College of Fine Arts at Jacksonville University and served as the first dean. In 1979, she was made president, becoming the first woman to hold that position at a university. For 30 years, Dr. Kinne served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Jacksonville Symphony and was one of only a few to be awarded with Lifetime Membership. Among her numerous accomplishments with the Symphony, she worked to bring Arthur Fiedler, Jack Benny and Duke Ellington to perform with us in Jacksonville. This true champion of the arts will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.
Dr. Frances Kinne
A BRIGHT FUTURE Last issue you were introduced to Natalie Watson, a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras (JSYO) and read about her experience making meaningful connections through music. Now, hear about her hopes for the future. My heart sank as I read an email from the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras explaining that the 2019-2020 season was ending earlier than expected due to the rising pandemic. I had been thrilled to play the repertoire for the upcoming Major Minor concert, and the thought of playing alongside the musicians of the Jacksonville Symphony excited me to no end. It disappointed me that weekly orchestra and chamber practice was no longer something I could look forward to.
THE INCREDIBLE AUCTION ITEM OF THE TELLURIDE IS STILL AVAILABLE! Enjoy a 5-Day/4-Night stay in a Telluride townhome, constructed on the #2 Tee box of the Telluride Golf and Ski Club. Townhome boasts newly remodeled interior with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and sleeps four (4) comfortably. To some, Telluride is known for incredible Alpine skiing. To others, summer is full of cultural events and endless outdoor activities. Two Masters Badges on the course available for one day. Blackout dates: December 20-30th If interested, please contact Cassie Castaneda at ccastaneda@jaxsymphony.org.
COVID-19 and quarantine has drastically affected classical musicians this past year and the recent circumstances have undoubtedly impacted young musicians as well. Many arts programs have been placed on hold, competitions have been cancelled, and lessons have shifted to virtual platforms like Zoom. Although online lessons are not the same as in-person ones, students have adapted and I am thankful that I am still able to learn and improve on my instrument. Considering the numerous changes that have taken place since the start of the pandemic, it’s not surprising that we have faced new challenges during the FY21 season. The Symphony and its devoted staff have worked hard to continue to bring classical music to the community through an online presence during the initial quarantine and live concerts since the start of the FY21 season in September. In addition, the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras program returned to live weekly rehearsals last fall that are now held at Jacoby Symphony Hall rather than FSCJ because of safety protocols. The JSYO Fall and Spring concerts were performed in Jacoby Symphony Hall while the JSYO Holiday concert was held virtually. These options will continue into the Symphony’s future, and while we sit back and patiently wait to return to our pre-pandemic routines, I am excited to see how the Symphony grows and engages with the community post-COVID-19.
“
So long as the human spirit thrives on this planet, music in some living form will accompany and sustain it. -Aaron Copland
“