Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra Announces 2009-2010 Season Grant Funding

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 03, 2009 – Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra (MCO) announces $48,500 in funding from five agencies so far for the 2009 – 2010 season.  Donors include the Wisconsin Arts Board, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the United Performing Arts Fund, and the Nonprofit Management Fund.  The monies will support the mission of the MCO: to present the finest quality music and innovative programming for small orchestra and ensembles through performances, education and outreach; to offer professional performance opportunities for professional musicians and artists; and to collaborate with other arts and educational organizations.

A $15,000 Wisconsin Arts Board Jobs Grant was announced by Governor Jim Doyle. Utilizing funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the grant will fund the position of Richard Hynson, MCO music director.  “Keeping Richard Hynson in this position is critical to the success of this organization,” said James Nelson, MCO president.  $2,500 in additional funding was also received through the Wisconsin Arts Board’s Creation grant program.  The Wisconsin Arts Board is a state agency which nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts, supports the arts in education, stimulates community and economic development and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage.

For the second consecutive year, the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra has received a $25,000 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for capacity building.  “This substantial support from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is a huge boost to the momentum we’re generating with our concerts for the audience and the musicians,” said Hynson.  “With a successful 2009-2010 season already underway, the MCO is currently in the planning stages for the 2010-2011 season and beyond.”  The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is a family of over 1,000 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the charitable causes of their choice.  Started in 1915, it is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the world.

A $3,000 United Performing Arts Fund Affiliate Member grant has been received to support the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra musicians and their unique role in the performing arts community.  “The opportunity to play in the intimate setting of the MCO is vital for the musicians and the patrons of our concerts.  This UPAF grant ensures that these extraordinary experiences will continue,” said Jeanyi Kim, MCO Concertmaster.  The United Performing Arts Fund's thirty-six performing arts groups enrich the culture of southeast Wisconsin by bringing new emotions to people whose spirits need lifting, retaining high-level professionals to the region and changing the lives of 400,000 children through education and outreach every year.

The Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra received $3,000 from the Nonprofit Management Fund to provide the services of professional fund development consultant, Amalia Schoone, CFRE.  “Income diversification is essential for all nonprofit arts organizations, regardless of the current economic conditions,” said Schoone.  “Effective organizations need several sources of revenue.”  The purposes of the Nonprofit Management Fund are to improve the management effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofit organizations and to increase the resources for nonprofit management in the greater Milwaukee area.

The MCO’s 2009-2010 season will continue on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. with Stravinsky’s “A Soldier’s Tale,” in collaboration with In Tandem Theatre. The third and final concert in the MCO’s season will be Friday, April 16, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. William Helmers, MCO principal clarinetist, will perform Aaron Copland’s “Clarinet Concerto.”  Performances are held at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 935 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee.  All patrons are invited to a free wine tasting one hour prior to each concert, presented by Wine Maniacs of Oconomowoc.

The Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, the only professional chamber orchestra in the greater Milwaukee area, has been performing the highest quality chamber music for more than 30 years.  The MCO provides a unique experience for audience members as well as important performance opportunities to professional musicians in the area.  Visit http://www.theMCO.org for information.