Creative Support for Organizations-Round 2

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$15,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Mesabi Community Orchestra AKA Mesabi Symphony Orchestra
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2021
End Date
December 2021
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Lake
St. Louis
Lake
St. Louis
Project Overview

Creative Support for Organizations-Round 2

Project Details

Mesabi Symphony Orchestra will livestream and broadcast as a string orchestra and small feature ensembles until it can safely resume normal operations with a full orchestra.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Ardell Brede: former mayor of Rochester; Peggy Burnet: entrepreneur, art collector, and community volunteer; Uri Camarena: business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA); Michael Charron: executive director of grants and sponsored programs for Saint Mary's University of Minnesota., Saint Mary's University of Minnesota; Sean Dowse: former mayor of Red Wing; former executive director, Sheldon Theatre; Anthony Gardner, vice president, marketing and communications at CentraCare; Philip McKenzie: team lead with Boutique Air, founder and owner of Bluedoor 74, adjunct college faculty; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; Thomas Moss: consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Dobson West: retired attorney; Christina Widdess: nonprofit consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Carrie Abfalter: Abfalter is the fund development manager for WACOSA, a nonprofit that creates day programs for adults with disabilities. In addition to her work with WACOSA, Abfalter teaches fitness classes at local gyms in Saint Cloud and enjoys spending time outdoors. Abfalter attended the College of Saint Benedict?in Saint Joseph, graduating with a bachelor of arts in social work.; Ryan Borden: Borden is an arts and culture professional with an education and equity focus. A recent arrival to Minnesota, Borden was previously the public programs manager at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ, where he collaborated with local communities to develop and execute large-scale cultural events. He has taught percussion both scholastically and independently in multiple states and has served as a panelist and reviewer for the Southwest Folklife Alliance's Master-Apprentice Program and ASU Gammage's Teaching Artists Program. Also a performing musician, he earned a MM in percussion from the University of Missouri.; Xiaohong Chen: Xiaohong Chen practices law and provides legal and financial consulting. Previously, she had held various positions with large health insurers including Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, and United Healthcare. She has been dancing with the Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater since 1994. She also has been serving as a volunteer board member there for more than 20 years. Chen holds a PhD in health services research, policy, and administration from the University of Minnesota and a JD from William Mitchell College of Law.; Sindiswa Georgiades: Sindiswa Georgiades has spent more than a decade as a project management and fund development professional. Sindiswa has a proven success record in the implementation and execution of fund procurement, project management, and organization leadership. Graduating suma cum laude with a BA in marketing management from Concordia University in Saint Paul. She also served as a Roy Wilkins Institute community fellow at the University of Minnesota.; Sandy Nadeau: Nadeau has just retired after 32 years working in the nonprofit realm in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Minnesota. She has served as an executive director, director of development, and director of communications at small, medium, and large organizations.; Briauna Williams: Williams a graphic design graduate. She is a teaching artist for the Capri Theater, Artistry, She Rock She Rock, and Young Rembrandts. Williams is a community leader and artist curating spaces for black and brown people to aid in healing with and through the arts. Williams is a muralist, self- taught artist, and henna artist. Her work has been featured at the Phoenix Theater sponsored by Springboard for the Arts, as well as an exhibition within a Duluth court house. Williams is motivated by youth and her community. Black peoples' struggles and resilience have been a common core in most of her works.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2019 First Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Education

2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$15,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$15,000
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

MSO will engage musician members with novel programming and connect with audiences via live streaming or recorded concerts delivered over the internet. MSO will survey participating musicians mid-year and at year end, and will seek audience feedback via Facebook and the website.

Measurable Outcome(s)

MSO engaged most of its musician members, and connected with audiences with virtual concerts, returning to live performances in the fall. The board collected musician and audience feedback via word of mouth. We did not conduct musician surveys and did not receive very much audience feedback via Facebook. Most musicians have returned, and audience size is approaching pre-Covid levels.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
achieved some of the proposed outcomes
Recipient Board Members
Ethan Bexell, James Wachter, Hannah Sipola, Emily Ekstrand-Brummer, Karen McManus, Benjamin Nilles, Sheila Wilcox, Tracey Gibbens, Norman Ferris, Linnea Manning
Project Manager
First Name
Karen
Last Name
McManus
Organization Name
Mesabi Community Orchestra AKA Mesabi Symphony Orchestra
Street Address
PO Box 600
City
Virginia
State
MN
Zip Code
55792
Phone
(218) 365-3228
Email
karjack@frontiernet.net
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