Buffalo Community Orchestra, Inc.
Minutes of Board Meeting of July 24, 2005
Members Present: Kara Stonecipher, Jolyn Halvorson, Gretchen Katzenberger, Tom Larson, Sandy Millerbernd, Erin Walsh, Mary Ellen Lundsten, Rosie Tabbut, Walt Ostrom, and Brendan Caldwell.
NEW BUSINESS:
First Item of Business:
FINALIZE MUSIC PROGRAMMING FOR 2005 - 2006
Recently, Mary Ellen Lundsten heard a performance by Maria Jette on Minnesota Public Radio.
Maria performed a vocal (soprano) rendition of “Green Eggs and Ham” with orchestra and a second vocal part by a ten year old child (with props!). Mary Ellen thought that the piece would be perfect for BCO’s October concert. She placed a phone call to Maria Jette, who lives in Deephaven, MN. Maria was very interested in performing the piece with BCO, and is available for the October 29th dress rehearsal/concert date. Maria’s usual fee is $2,000 per performance, but since we are a local non-profit group, she is willing to reduce her fee to $1,000. Maria has performed the “Green Eggs and Ham” piece nationally, and is well known for her performances with the Plymouth Music Series, the Minnesota Orchestra and Garrison Keillor. After discussion as to other programming options and costs, the board unanimously voted to proceed with the performance of “Green Eggs and Ham” with Maria Jette as guest artist. The Montrose Suzuki String students would be included in this piece, with simplified parts prepared by Erin Walsh. We will want to actively promote this performance with the area schools and pre-school programs, and also with press releases in area newspapers. The Buffalo Public Library should also be contacted for special promotion. We will need to research and confirm with music rental company what Seuss images we can use for advertising purposes without incurring any copyright infringement issues.
After much discussion, the October 29, 2005 program “Music Tells the Tale” is as follows:
-Overture to “Nabucco” – Verdi (borrow from Linden Hills Orchestra)
-Pavane pour une Infante defunte – Ravel
-Flight of the Bumblebee with saxophonist Willie Sax
-A second piece with saxophonist Willie Sax
-Intermission_
-“Green Eggs and Ham” with Maria Jette (performance time: approx 20 minutes)
The proposed programming for the December 10, 2005 program “Holiday for Orchestra – With Ringers and Singers” is tentatively as follows (additional input required from Mike Walsh):
-“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” with suggested narrator, Linda Eckman
-Handbell selection w/orchestra (J. Krantz: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”)
-Wright County Chamber Choir & BCO: Carols and/or Christmas Oratorio by Bach)
-Deck the Halls – Mannheim Steamroller (rental)
-Christmas Festival – Leroy Anderson (borrow from Linden Hills???)
-Wright County Chamber Choir vocal set
The proposed programming for the March 4, 2006 program “Journeys” is as follows:
-Overture to “Rienzi” – Wagner
-Cello Concerto in D Minor (cello solo by Jena Nordschow) – Lalo
-Intermission-
-Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished” - Schubert
-Radetzky March - Strauss
The proposed programming for the May 13, 2006 program “Songs and Dances” is as follows:
-Appalachian Spring Ballet – Copland (to be performed by U of M ensemble and dancers – need commitment from U of M ensemble/dancers)
-Jolyn Halvorson’s brass quintet or Wright County Chamber Choir vocal set – to be performed in PAC lobby while stage is re-set after ballet performance
-Intermission-
-L’Arlisienne Suite #1 - Bizet
-Danny Boy
-1812 Overture – Tchaikovsy
The proposed programming for the June 4/11 (confirm date) concert in Sturges Park Bandshell:
-Radetzky March – Strauss
-new jazz piece or Twentiana (borrow from Linden Hills?)
-show piece (maybe from “Singing in the Rain” with Wright County Chamber Choir
-Danny Boy
-1812 Overture – Tchaikovsky
-Stars and Stripes Forever – Sousa
Second Item of Business:
INITIAL INPUT ON MUSIC PROGRAMMING FOR 2006-2007
In the early planning stages, suggestions for the 2006-2007 season are as follows:
For the October 2006 concert, choose one: Peter and the Wolf, Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (B. Brittan) or Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens). Also, the Hungarian March.
For the March 2007 concert: Bercuse and Finale (Stravinsky), Carmen Suite No. 1 (Bizet), Wedding March from “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Overture from “Ruslan and Ludmilla” (Glinka).
For the May 2007 concert: Academic Overture (Brahms), Courtly Dances (Benjamin Brittan), Nimrod + other selections (Elgar), Adagio (Barber), Unanswered Question (Ives), Essay No. 1 (Samuel Barber), or Hoedown (Copland).
Another suggestion was a collaboration with the Wright County Chamber Choir of something by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Third Item of Business:
DISCUSSION ON INCREASING MEMBERS IN STRING SECTION
Mike Walsh will prepare a letter to be sent to area high schools to recruit high school student for BCO’s violin section. Gretchen Katzenberger will prepare a mailing to area private violin instructors to recruit adult and student violin students. Adds in local newspapers will also be placed as has been done in years past. Sandy Millerbernd will contact former BCO violin members to see if there is interest in re-joining the orchestra.
Walt Ostrom suggested creating a BCO recruiting video (primarily for high school students) featuring interviews with students and Brendan together with concert and rehearsal highlights. The board members felt that the video could be a good recruiting tool, if it was well done. Members felt that the project would require gathering video of the concerts over the coming years, and then perhaps creating the video in the fall of next year. Walt also had several copies of a CD of the May 2005 concert. Board members felt that a mailing of the CD to area schools and private instructors would reach more potential members than the video project , and asked Walt to create 60 copies of the CD’s for this purpose. BCO will reimburse Walt for his expenses for this project.
The board would also like to have additional BCO magnets for sale/distribution at concerts. The magnets should be updated to include BCO’s website address (the website should also be given in all newspaper articles/programs/season ticket brochures), and possibly should include concert dates. Tom Larson will explore the various options/pricing and report back to the board.
Fourth Item of Business:
FUND RAISING
Jolyn Halvorson will prepare and send out fundraising letters to area businesses and past patrons of BCO as she has done in past years. We need to re-visit this item at a future meeting for further ideas/planning.
Fifth Item of Business:
BCO NEWSLETTER
Ideas for a BCO Newsletter for mailing to concert patrons has been discussed off and of during the past year. The board would like to try at least one newsletter mailing during the 2005-2006 season to see what kind of response is received. Gretchen Katzenberger will seek out volunteers for the newsletter project.
Sixth Item of Business:
SEASON TICKETS
Last year, the Board voted to raise ticket prices, however, the season ticket brochures were printed without the increase, so the prices were not changed last year. The ticket prices for the 2005 – 2006 season will be as follows:
Individual Tickets:
-Adult: $8.00
-Student/Senior: $6.00
-Five and under: No charge
Season Tickets:
Adult: $30
Student/Senior: $20
Seventh Item of Business:
REHEARSAL START DATE
Since the Labor Day holiday falls in the second week of September this year, it was decided that we would begin rehearsal for the 2005 – 2006 season on Sunday, August 28th (at 4 p.m.) so that most everyone will have their music over the Labor Day holiday.
Sandy Millerbernd will prepare a mailing to BCO members regarding the first rehearsal. She will also contact Kristi Brown about making arrangements for a BCO member potluck which will be scheduled for Sunday, September 18th.
It was also suggested that instead of asking members to sign up for weekly treats, that we instead assign treats/beverages to the various sections in the orchestra so that it doesn’t end up being the same volunteers. Gretchen Katzenberger will contact Kristi Brown to request that she prepare an assignment roster for this purpose.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place on Sunday, September 11th at 3 p.m. in the BHS band room.
There being no further business to discuss, a motion was made by Mary Ellen Lundsten to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Jolyn Halvorson. Vote: All in favor. Opposed: None. Discussion: None. Motion passed and meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Gretchen Katzenberger
Buffalo Community Orchestra
President/Acting Secretary
***A special note of thanks to our hostess, Mary Ellen Lundsten, who provided an absolutely fabulous luncheon meal that sustained us throughout our ambitious meeting agenda!