rockport music
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
ROCKPORTMUSIC.ORG
rockport music
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Sandeep Das, tabla and Mike Block, cello
TABLE OF CONTENTS
photo by nate weaver
LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP
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YEAR IN REVIEW
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EDUCATION
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FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
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GOVERNANCE & STAFF
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cover: Christian Tetzlaff photo by jon tadiello
ROCKPORT MUSIC
LETTER FROM
LEADERSHIP ■
We hope you are enjoying concerts this season! Since 1982, each summer we celebrate our roots as the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, but now we can enjoy an incredible collection of classical, jazz, folk, pop and global concerts throughout the year. Our mission remains the same, bringing “exceptional live performances and creative learning opportunities” to our community. This past year we transitioned our fiscal year end from the end of August to the end of March for better operational planning. Therefore, the enclosed report covers activities and financial information for a 7-month period of September 2022 – March 2023. We are incredibly appreciative of all of our donors, trustees, volunteers and staff whose commitment to Rockport Music has allowed us to rebuild since the pandemic. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to experience great live music with you in our beautiful hall and welcome you to join us often in your musical journey during the coming months. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming concert!
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Tony Beadle
Jeannie McIntyre
PRESIDENT & CEO
BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR
Eileen Ivers December 2022 photo by kenny lewis
MISSION Rockport Music inspires a love and understanding of music through exceptional live performances and creative learning opportunities.
CORE VALUES ■
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Shared live music and learning experiences that intensify the transformative power of music. Exceptional performances and creative programming that explore and evolve the art form. Support for emerging world-class artists and the next generation of audiences. Lasting personal connections with our audiences, performers, volunteers and friends. Access to live music and music education for community members. An active commitment to the spirit and practices of diversity, inclusiveness and respect in all its governance, operations, programs and activities.
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FY 2023
REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2022–MARCH 2023
Despite the shortened “stub” fiscal year, there has been much to celebrate in these seven months. Perhaps the most exciting new development was the start of our brand new Global Journeys music series. Curated by cellist/composer Mike Block, Global Journeys takes listeners on a trip around the world, while also unearthing the musical possibilities that arise when cultural traditions meet and mingle. In September, tabla master Sandeep Das joined Block for a spirited concert that merged North Indian Hindustani music with Western classical and popular styles for a unique, wholly original hybrid. In November the series continued with Jussi Reijonen’s Three Seconds/Kolme Toista program, a dynamic concert that showcased tightly arranged jazz The hall at Rockport was a perfectly scaled venue for this pieces imbued with Arabic musical motifs. Fresh from her debut at the Rockport Chamber Music Festival concert, and its own unique earlier in the year, pipa virtuoso Wu Man joined Block features only added layers of in February for a concert that delved deeply into Chinese folk songs and culture. resonance. At the beginning
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of the program, when the afternoon sun was still strong, the large wooden doors at the back of the stage were closed, covering that enormous wall of glass looking out onto the sea. But for the remainder of the program they remained open and, as we all listened together, the light slowly faded from the sky.” THE BOSTON GLOBE
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The fall classical season was immersed in the works of J.S. Bach. In fact, each of the first three concerts featured the Baroque icon, beginning with Europa Galante (led by violinist Fabio Biondi) in October who enchanted the audience with Bach’s Violin Concerto in G minor as well as his beloved Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. In November the celebrated pianist Angela Hewitt and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra shared an entire afternoon of Bach concerti. Then, in early December, violinist Christan Tetzlaff gave a thrilling solo performance that The Boston Globe described as, “a more airy, dematerialized sound. It was as if the music had abandoned its prior pretense to solidity in order to embrace, without illusion, a sense of its own ephemerality, and the fleetingness of life itself.”
In January, the Harlem Quartet brought a moving concert entitled Cross Pollination that included William Bolcom's Three Rags for String Quartet, a piece by Guido López-Gavilán, an arrangement of Dizzy Gillespie's A Night in Tunisia and a string quartet by Debussy.
Valerie June November 2022 photo by margaret sweet
left
Pokey LaFarge December 2022 right
Harlem Quartet January 2023
One of our on-stage presentations this year hosted singer-songwriter and LGBTQ activist Crys Matthews for a concert that featured themes for Black History Month. While we have always strived to offer a dynamic and diverse slate of concerts each year, we are now doubling our efforts to make sure even more voices are heard. This is an exciting time, and we hope you enjoy the breadth of our musical offerings. The fall-winter season also included some outstanding folk and roots music, from artists making their Rockport debut like British folk icon Richard Thompson to beloved returnees like the great Shawn Colvin and Leo Kottke. In the jazz realm we were able to bring back the always jubilant Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Stylistically, we ran the jazz gamut this year, from the fusion funk of Spyro Gyra to the jazz manouche meets Western Swing stylings of Hot Club of Cowtown to old friend John Pizzarelli’s smooth jazz swing.
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2023
EDUCATION ■
The school residency program flourished throughout the 22-23 season. Master Ghanaian drummer Sowah Mensah, Boston Children’s Chorus director Kenneth Griffith, Calliope Brass and the Aeolus Quartet led students in multi-day residencies in the Rockport Schools. The artist residencies included culminating performances with student participation both at the Shalin Liu Performance Center and Rockport High School’s Lane Auditorium. In addition, multiple artists were able to visit several locations in Gloucester and Beverly, expanding the reach of Rockport Music’s programming to both familiar and new schools. The new Global Journeys Series brought presentations by tabla master Sandeep Das and cellist Mike Block, jazz guitarist (and oud player) Jussi Reijonen and pipa player Wu Man exposing students to new genres, cultures and ways of thinking about music. November 2022 saw the return (since the pandemic) of New England Conservatory’s Touring Children’s Opera, presenting Hansel & Gretel for nearly 400 students over two performances at the Shalin Liu Performance Center. The winter brought even more variety to the in-school programs with presentations by two legends in the folk/roots world, Bruce Molsky and Tony Trishka, as well as the funk/jazz stylings of BT/ALC Big Band. Rounding out the fiscal year was Cape Ann Jazz Workshop’s Director, Alexa Tarantino, visiting a record number of classes (16!) in anticipation of the workshop this summer. For a showcase concert that week, we were delighted that several students joined Alexa and faculty member Steven Feifke on stage. 1. Boston Children’s Chorus director Kenneth Griffith works with Rockport Middle and High School Chorus students.
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2. African drummer Sowah Mensah leads the drum section in his composition of Sii Sii Sii, which was performed by Rockport High band, chorus and orchestra students. 3. Tabla master Sandeep Das and cellist Mike Block share their cross-cultural music with Rockport Elementary students. 4. Calliope Brass performs with Rockport wind and brass students in their community concert. photos by elizabeth stefan
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2023
FINANCIAL
OVERVIEW ■
After several years of discussion among the board, auditors and staff, the Rockport Music Board of Trustees decided it would be beneficial to to adjust the timing of our fiscal year closing date. As a result of this adjustment, this fiscal year is only a 7-month period of September 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023, (FY2023) a shortened time frame that accountants refer to as a stub year. Significantly, in the period covered by this stub year, there was no fundraising gala nor any revenues generated by the chamber music festival. As a result, Rockport Music sustained a modest operating deficit. Given the shortened duration of FY23, the Operating Revenue and Expense report to the right does not include a direct comparison to a past 12-month year’s operational report. In future reports, the financial review will have a 12-month year-to-year comparison, while the Balance Sheet will continue to be compared to the previous fiscal year closing. On the capital side, we are pleased to report modest growth in our balance sheet over fiscal year 2022. Considering the challenges in the market as a whole, this speaks to the experience, strength and knowledge of our investment committee, who continue to shepherd Rockport Music’s financial assets with great care. At the close of FY23, Rockport Music had total assets over $31.3 million.
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We are so grateful to our dedicated donors who have generously provided financial support through the past several years of uncertainty. Without this support, we would not have come out of this pandemic in such a strong financial position. As we move into what we anticipate will finally be a “normal” fiscal year 2024, we continue to strive to refine our operational expenses and build our programming, while also focusing on the further development of engaging educational initiatives.
Peter Calkins FINANCE CHAIR
BALANCE SHEET 2022–2023 Closed March 31, 2023
FY 2023
FY 2022
385,115
244,657
Restricted Cash & Endowments
14,327,775
13,978,819
Fixed Assets
15,946,484
16,298,413
696,226
653,423
$31,355,600
$31,175,312
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
FY 2023
FY 2022
Current Liabilities
824,744
723,539
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–
Net Assets without Donor Restriction
17,921,659
18,047,700
Net Assets with Donor Restriction
12,609,197
12,404,073
$31,355,600
$31,175,312
Cash & Operating Reserves
Other Total Assets
Long Term Debt
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
OPERATING REVENUE & SUPPORT REVENUE 2022–2023 **Does not include Board Designated Revenue
REVENUE**
FY 2023
Program
633,321
Contributed
1,041,139
Federal Grants
–
Other
121,247
Releases from Restrictions & Investment Return
510,457
Total Revenue
$2,306,164
OPERATING EXPENSE
FY 2023
Performance & Community Engagement
1,989,019
Advancement (including allocated overhead)
389,232
Administration
219,993
Total Expenses
$2,598,244
Change in Net Assets from Operations
($292,080)
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GOVERNANCE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TRUSTEES EMERITI
ROCKPORT MUSIC COUNCIL
Jeannie McIntyre
James Barker Stephen Bell Thomas Burger Mollie Byrnes Janice Cane Allan Cohen Philip Cutter Susan Gray Garth Greimann Susanne Guyer William Hausman Mary Malone Joseph Mueller Susan Wagner Margaret Ziering
Dianne Anderson John Brennan Lois Brynes John Byrnes Andrew Calkins Patricia Campbell Bettie Cartwright Suzanne Cervo Diane Connolly Michael Costello Priscilla Deck Deborah Epstein Al Fichera Tom Flaherty Elizabeth Gibbons Sherwin Greenblatt Karen Hanson Carole Horwitz Amy Huber Gillian Kellogg Susan King Edward Lowenstein, M.D. Deborah Nelson Katherine O’Dair Olivia Parker LeeAnne Powers Andrée Robert Ruth Shane Hinda Simon Kathleen Skrabut Helen Soussou Barbara Sparks Bruce D. Sunstein Susan Turnbull Toni Waldron
CHAIR
Ed Becker VICE CHAIR
Sandra Jesse VICE CHAIR
Peter Calkins TREASURER
Linda Walker SECRETARY
Robert Cassady, M.D. Ian Crown Nina Doggett Jerry A. Hausman Gregg Kvistad Harry Lasker Sandra Lawrence Ned Morse Pamela Morss Stephen Perry Doug Rich Hilary Robinson David Scudder Laura Stevens Naomi Stonberg Winand van Eeghen Daniel Waters Patricia Zeigler Tony Beadle PRESIDENT & CEO EX OFFICIO
Barry Shiffman CLASSICAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, EX OFFICIO
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AS OF JULY 2023
2023 Grammy winners— trumpeter Bijon Watson, the new Iconic Jazz Series artistic curator, and pianist Steven Feifke—perform for the Rockport Council. March 2023
The Balourdet Quartet performs for the Evening of Appreciation event. September 2022
STAFF EXECUTIVE Tony Beadle PRESIDENT & CEO
Karen Herlitz
Shannon Mason
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
DEVELOPMENT Lori Correale DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Susan Rogers SENIOR DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Jeanne Kinch DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Mark Barrasso DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR
Nora Whouley DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
FINANCE Midori Williams DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
EDUCATION Elizabeth Stefan DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & PARTNERSHIPS
Eileen Ivers and band take a selfie photo with the audience. December 2022
MARKETING & TICKETING
Christopher Blagg MARKETING MANAGER
Billy Burgoyne TICKETING OPERATIONS MANAGER
Maggie Glidden ASSOCIATE DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER
OPERATIONS Michelle Alekson DIRECTOR OF RENTAL EVENTS & VOLUNTEERS
Scott Rodgers DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL OPERATIONS
Nate Weaver TECHNICAL OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE
ARTISTIC Barry Shiffman ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ROCKPORT CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL & CLASSICAL MUSIC
Mike Block GLOBAL JOURNEYS ARTISTIC CURATOR
Alexa Tarantino
Bijon Watson
JAZZ WORKSHOP DIRECTOR
ICONIC JAZZ LEGACIES ARTISTIC CURATOR ■■■
David Deveau ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS ROCKPORT CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
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rockport music
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Administration 16 MAIN STREET
Shalin Liu Performance Center 37 MAIN STREET ROCKPORT, MASSACHUSETTS 01966
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