Project Grant - Round 1

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Buffalo Community Orchestra
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
October 2012
End Date
October 2012
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Wright
Hennepin
Sherburne
Meeker
Ramsey
Wright
Hennepin
Sherburne
Meeker
Ramsey
Project Overview
"Building the Orchestra: (Some Assembly Required)"
Project Details
Buffalo Community Orchestra will present a concert at 7:30 pm on October 27, 2012 at Buffalo High School Performing Arts Center highlighting the distinct sounds of instrument groups that comprise the orchestra. Famous works for percussion, wind, brass, and strings, then full orchestra, are featured.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Mike Carlson: Foley High School Art Teacher, potter; Janice Courtney: arts advisor/Assistant Director of Saint Cloud State University Program Board; Leslie Hanlon: Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the College of Saint Benedict's/Saint John's University Fine Arts Series; Chris Rasmussen: art teacher for 35 years at Foley Senior High (retired), Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Board Member and College of Saint Benedict's/Saint John's University Fine Arts Programming Advisory Council Member; Peter Veljkovich: Littleton Fine Arts Committee, county representative for South Suburban Arts Committee, photographer, writer, Disc Jockey; Charlene Sul: Art Director of Hands Across the World, facilitator, art lecturer; John Stander: Executive Director of Elk River Arts Alliance, career school administrator; Helene Woods: nonprofit and public administrator, Board Member of the Monticello Arts Council.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Mike Carlson: Foley High School Art Teacher, potter; Janice Courtney: arts advisor/Assistant Director of Saint Cloud State University Program Board; Leslie Hanlon: Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the College of Saint Benedict's/Saint John's University Fine Arts Series; Chris Rasmussen: art teacher for 35 years at Foley Senior High (retired), Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Board Member and College of Saint Benedict's/Saint John's University Fine Arts Programming Advisory Council Member; Peter Veljkovich: Littleton Fine Arts Committee, county representative for South Suburban Arts Committee, photographer, writer, Disc Jockey; Charlene Sul: Art Director of Hands Across the World, facilitator, art lecturer; John Stander: Executive Director of Elk River Arts Alliance, career school administrator; Helene Woods: nonprofit and public administrator, Board Member of the Monticello Arts Council.
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2011, First Special Session, chapter 6, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$2,715
Direct expenses
$7,715
Administration costs
$1,350
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Audience numbers exceeding 250 and ticket sales of at least $1,900 will reflect how well our publicity has reached out into nearby communities; we will hope to see new faces from our immigrant and student populations in the audience and at the post-concert reception, where we will directly solicit feedback on our performance of this music. These figures and impressions will be analyzed at the post-concert board meeting. At least 30 Suzuki students and parents participating in the pre-concert performance will indicate the on-going strength of our partnership with the Montrose Suzuki String program. Full participation by student members of the Buffalo High School Chamber Orchestra and positive feedback from their teacher will provide the basis for future collaborations. The director of the Saint Cloud State Percussion Ensemble will also be asked to survey his performers, who will be expected to rate the event high on the evaluation scales.At the post-concert reception, leaders of the collaborative groups will be asked for their assessments of the performance quality and audience response. Written assessments will be submitted soon after the concert evening. Discussion will be raised and musicians' reviews encouraged as the conductor comments on the concert at the next rehearsal. A full review of feedback questionnaires from the collaborative relationships will be made by the Buffalo Community Orchestra Board of Directors. The detailed feedback questionnaires covering the full season's offerings will be restructured for inclusion in the Notes On-line newsletter, using Survey Monkey to tabulate and analyze responses. Buffalo Community Orchestra musicians at the pre-June concert rehearsal will be asked to evaluate the year's program and performances in a review questionnaire.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Audience numbers of 250 and ticket sales of $1900 were set as goals to reflect how well our publicity has reached out into nearby communities; 241 paying attendees were recorded, for a sales total of $2877, in addition free tickets given to students and families of performing students. These figures and impressions were analyzed at the post-concert board meeting. At least 14 of the predicted 30 Suzuki students participated in the pre-concert performance; they performed original music and thus the beginning Suzuki students were not included this year. Students of the Buffalo High School Chamber Orchestra gave positive feedback. Several joined Buffalo Community Orchestra for future concerts, indicating success on this goal for collaborations. The director of the Saint Cloud State Percussion Ensemble and his performers rated the event high in post-concert feedback; they indicated a desire for future performances with Buffalo Community Orchestra. Audience response to the Ensemble was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Our first use of a (5 high to 1 low) point evaluation and commentary was issued to the board members via e-mail: in the 10 responses the concert format, use of collaborating groups, and audience comments to board members was a unanimous 5. Guest artists and rehearsal procedures were rated 4.7 and 4.6 respectively.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Jeff Burns, Walter Ostrom, Sarah Braith, Gretchen Katzenberger, Gail Anderson, Julie Rathmanner, Rosemary Tabbut, Mike Walsh, Erin Walsh, Renee Vetsch
Project Manager
First Name
Mary Ellen
Last Name
Lundsten
Organization Name
Buffalo Community Orchestra
Street Address
301 2nd Ave NE PO Box 707
City
Buffalo
State
MN
Zip Code
55313-1653
Phone
(952) 657-6250
Email
melundsten1@mac.com
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency
Location

P.O. Box 458
220 4th Ave North 
Foley, MN 56329

Phone
Project Manager: Leslie LeCuyer
320-968-4290x 3