During the ACSO Annual Meeting on Friday, July 26, 2024, members welcomed the association's new 2024/25 board officers and elected three new board members to serve a three-year term beginning October 1, 2024. Congratulations!
Scott Vandrick
President
Senior Director of Advancement
The Music Center
The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the Executive Leadership Award, Emerging Professional Award, Young Musician Leadership Award, and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Volunteer Awards. Awards will be presented at ACSO’s 2024 Annual Conference in San Francisco from July 25-27. Congratulations to all the worthy nominees and recipients!
ACSO’s annual awards program recognizes remarkable individuals and organizations within ACSO’s membership network for their meaningful contributions to the orchestra field.
On May 15, 2024, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the second round of recommended awards for fiscal year 2024, with more than $110 million in funding to support the arts nationwide. This is the second of the NEA’s two major grant announcements each fiscal year. These grants fall under three NEA funding categories: Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, and State and Regional Partnerships. Eight ACSO members have been selected to receive grants totaling $260,000 in funding (see list below). For the full announcement from the NEA, please click here.
NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD said, “These projects exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts. So many aspects of our communities such as cultural vitality, health and well-being, infrastructure, and the economy are advanced and improved through investments in art and design, and this funding at the local, state, and regional levels demonstrates the National Endowment for the Arts’ commitment to ensuring people across the country benefit.”
By Retired Major Brian Dix, United States Marine Corps, an independent Conductor & Composer from San Diego California
In anticipation of America's momentous 250th birthday in 2026, the world of classical music stands poised to create a year-long celebration extending beyond the traditional festivities of Independence Day. Amidst the grandeur, there exists a delightful consideration of ‘diamonds in the rough’—musical works that skillfully strike the delicate balance in concert repertoire of patriotism without veering into the realm of going full-blown “Pops.”
The 2024 summer music festival season is here! Artists and live music lovers from all over the world are coming to California and the Western U.S. to experience a unique blend of music-making, camaraderie, and scenic beauty. The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is pleased to share this summer's offerings from our festival members, highlighting a vital and vibrant way for artists and audiences alike to deeply engage in classical music in picturesque, unique communities.
No two festivals are exactly alike, yet each share one common thread: a love and respect for composers, musicians, and the communities in which they are rooted. There are many opportunities to experience world-class performances and connect with the artists who bring these great works of art to life.
The author of this blog, Julia Copeland, is a former ACSO Board member, the former Executive Director of Youth Orchestras of Fresno, and a professional violinist. Julia shares her thoughts and impressions of playing in the Fresno Philharmonic concert on Saturday, March 9, 2024. This concert, titled Mariachi Los Camperos, was guest conducted by Alexandra Arrieche.
What a blast! It’s been a long time since I lived in Mexico City, but a recent night with the Fresno Philharmonic and the Los Angeles-based mariachi group Los Camperos seemed to whisk me back in time and space to Mexico DF’s mariachi mecca, the Plaza Garibaldi.
Image description: Los Camperos backstage with fans
The author of this blog, Julia Copeland, is a former ACSO Board member, the former Executive Director of Youth Orchestras of Fresno, and a professional violinist. Julia shares her thoughts and impressions from attending the Oakland Symphony's January 26, 2024, concert guest conducted by Kalena Bovell and featuring Samantha Ege on piano.
On Friday night at the Oakland Symphony concert conducted by Kalena Bovell, with piano soloist Samantha Ege, I couldn’t avoid a moment of total happiness caused by what should probably be considered extraneous, non-music-related factors.
The author of this blog, Julia Copeland, is a former ACSO Board member, the former Executive Director of Youth Orchestras of Fresno, and a professional violinist. Julia shares her thoughts and impressions from attending the San Francisco Symphony's performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 5 guest conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) on Thursday, January 25, 2024. The concert was part of the last subscription series MTT will conduct for SFS, where he was music director from 1995-2020, and marked the 50th anniversary of his debut with the orchestra.
You knew the minute he came onstage what kind of night it would be. He was himself…and yet not exactly. We could feel the pressure of tears building already before he reached the podium. It was that kind of night. Anyone who tells you otherwise is just trying to seem tough.
We are excited to share the latest developments and changes in the professional lives of our members. This edition of Up & Down the Scale covers orchestra administrative announcements made from November 2023 through January 2024. If you want to share the administrative, board, or staff member happenings at your organization, send announcements to [email protected] or add us to your PR lists.
On January 24, 2024, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the first round of recommended awards for fiscal year 2024, with more than $32 million in funding to support the arts nationwide. This is the first of the NEA’s two major grant announcements each fiscal year and includes grants to organizations through the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, Challenge America, Research Grants in the Arts, and Research Labs categories. Four ACSO members have been selected to receive grants totaling $140,000 in funding (see list below). For the full announcement from the NEA, please click here.
NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD said, “The NEA is pleased to announce these grants, all of which strengthen our nation’s arts sector in different ways. Whether it’s the creation of new art, opportunities for the public to participate and engage in the arts, or work to better understand the impact of the arts, these grants contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities, help meet the challenges of our time, and build towards a future in which all people can lead artful lives and reach their full potential.”
By Kathryn R Martin, President & CEO, Santa Barbara Symphony
During COVID, the Santa Barbara Symphony created innovative paths forward that could only have been created collaboratively with the musicians (and the venue). In Spring 2023, in the midst of a multi-year financial turn-around, with echoes of mistrust and misinformation from the previous administration, and with a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) set to expire on June 30th, we drew upon this collaborative process when we went to the table to negotiate a new contract with our musicians. I learned a lot.
On December 1, 2023, the California Arts Council (CAC) announced 856 grant awards totaling more than $32.75 million in overall projected investments for operational and project support to nonprofit organizations and units of government throughout the state of California.
In this 2023 grant cycle, ACSO and 12 of our orchestra members received grants totaling $457,463, as did 14 additional orchestras and music organizations that received grants totaling total of $471,750. This is a nearly $1million investment of public funds in our sector.
We are excited to share the latest developments and changes in the professional lives of our members. This edition of Up & Down the Scale covers orchestra administrative announcements made from June through October 2023. If you want to share the administrative, board, or staff member happenings at your organization, send announcements to [email protected] or add us to your PR lists.
Berkeley Symphony received a gift of $1.5 Million from Gordon Getty to support its future growth.
ACSO joins thousands of arts organizations and communities across the nation to recognize October as National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM). NAHM is coordinated by Americans for the Arts, the national organization working to empower communities with the resources and support necessary to provide access to all of the arts for all of the people. It is a coast-to-coast collective recognition of the importance of art and culture in America during the month of October with goals of:
Learn more about how your organization can get involved here.
During ACSO's Annual Meeting on Thursday, August 17, 2023, ACSO members welcomed new board officers for 2023/24 and elected six new board members. Congratulations!
Elizabeth Shribman
President
Chief of Staff
San Francisco Symphony
The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the Executive Leadership Award, Emerging Professional Award, and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Volunteer Awards, and the inaugural recipients of the new Young Musician Leadership Award and Social Impact Award. Congratulations to all the worthy recipients and nominees!
ACSO’s annual awards program recognizes remarkable individuals and organizations within ACSO’s membership network for their meaningful contributions to the orchestra field.
We are excited to share the latest developments and changes in the professional lives of our members. This edition of Up & Down the Scale covers orchestra administrative announcements made from February to May 2023. If you want to share the administrative, board, or staff member happenings at your organization, send announcements to [email protected] or add us to your PR lists.
On May 24, 2023, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the second round of recommended awards for fiscal year 2023, with more than $103 million in funding to support the arts nationwide. This is the second of the NEA’s two major grant announcements each fiscal year and includes grants to organizations through the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, and State and Regional Partnership categories.
ACSO and nine of its members have been selected to receive Grants for Arts Projects in the Music and Arts Education categories, totaling $256,000 in funding (see list below). For the full announcement from the NEA, please click here.
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS‘ ANNUAL CONFERENCE
INSPIRES, REVITALIZES, AND CONNECTS COMMUNITIES
Los Angeles, CA (May 19, 2023) – The Association of California Symphony Orchestra’s (ACSO) Annual Conference is back in person for the first time in four years, and for the first time in the organization's 54-year history, it takes place in the Inland Empire. The conference is being held at the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, CA from August 16 - 18, 2023 and is hosted by the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the Redlands Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic.
The 2023 summer music festival season is here! Artists and live music lovers from all over the world are coming to California and the Western U.S. to experience a unique blend of music-making, camaraderie, and scenic beauty. The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is pleased to share this summer's offerings from our festival members, highlighting a vital and vibrant way for artists and audiences alike to deeply engage in classical music in picturesque, unique communities.
No two festivals are exactly alike, yet each share one common thread: a love and respect for composers, musicians, and the communities in which they are rooted. There are many opportunities to experience world-class performances and connect with the artists who bring these great works of art to life.
CONTACT US |
Quick Links |
|
PO BOX 71439 |
©Copyright 2022, Association of California Symphony Orchestras
ACSO is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
