Operating Support Grant
Operating Support Grant
We will develop a sustainable staffing structure and re-imagine ways to fulfill our mission.
Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Tammy Mattonen: visual artist, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota-Duluth; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner; Emily Swanson: arts administrator at Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community; Daniel Oyinloye: musician, videographer; Kris Nelson: artist, teacher; Roxann Berglund: musician; Bill Payne: Professor of Theater at the University of Minnesota-Duluth
Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota-Duluth; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner; Daniel Oyinloye: musician, videographer; Kris Nelson: artist, teacher; Bill Payne: Professor of Theater at the University of Minnesota-Duluth
ACHF Arts Access
Through annual board retreats, MSO has developed a strategic plan and supporting outcomes which we measure and discuss at least yearly. Our success in achieving these outcomes guides our planning for programming and outreach to musicians and audiences. Outcomes: Participation in MSO programs will be maintained or grow; Participation in MSO Programs by string players will be maintained or grow; Musicians will feel the repertoire is helping them to improve their skills; MSO musicians will support the orchestra financially; Audiences for MSO concerts will be maintained or grow; Student attendance at orchestra concerts will grow; Financial support for the orchestra will grow; The board will have clear succession plans for all leadership positions; MSO will generate 20% of annual expenses from ticket sales; The MSO budget will become less dependent on grant funding; MSO will maintain a 6-month budget reserve; MSO will support music education and work with young musicians. MSO conducts a survey of participating musicians at the end of most seasons. The survey asks questions such as how well do you think MSO is fulfilling its mission; how do you feel about the level of difficulty of the pieces we played this season; did you have enough rehearsal time to adequately prepare for the concerts; what changes, if any, would you like MSO to make; did you enjoy being a part of MSO this year; and please share your feedback on other aspects of concert operations (publicity, stage setup, lobby setup, programs and ads, refreshments, social time, school visits). The survey also invites members to suggest pieces for future programming, and to volunteer to serve on the board or committees or take on other tasks like mingling with audience members after performances. MSO periodically conducts audience surveys, with the most recent one taking place in February. Audience surveys typically ask questions such as what is the most important reason(s) you are attending a performance today; how many MSO performances have you attended in the last 12 months; have you ever made a financial contribution to MSO (other than purchasing tickets); what kind of music would you like to hear MSO perform; and how many miles did you drive to attend today?s performance. Survey results are compiled and discussed by the board at least annually. MSO serves two constituent groups: musicians, and audience members. MSO relies primarily on word of mouth to recruit musicians. We can always find places for string players in our orchestra or our chamber ensemble, based on their ability, experience, and interests. Our personnel manager is responsible for recruiting wind, brass and percussion players, often based on the recommendations of other orchestra musicians. As manager of the Schmitt Music store in Virginia, she is well connected with musicians in our area. It is our policy not to have players double on parts in the woodwind and brass sections, so if we do not have an opening for someone who is interested in playing, we refer them to the Mesabi Community Band. Mesabi Symphony Orchestra is listed as an elective course offering at Mesabi Range College. For the 2020-2021 season, Mesabi Symphony Orchestra will be listed in the Community Education program of the Rock Ridge School System. MSO does not discriminate against anyone based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age or disability. We have had musicians ranging in age from eighth graders to nineties. Our membership is fairly evenly split between men and women. Audience members come from across the Iron Range to attend our concerts. We typically distribute 150-175 posters to public places across the Range to publicize concerts. We run ads in newspapers in Virginia, Hibbing, Ely, and Cook and publicize our concerts on MPR?s news and classical music stations serving the Iron Range. Free student tickets are distributed to hundreds of students through MSO musicians and public school music teachers, and on our website. We know fro
As our project description says, we had two goals for this project: (1) to develop a sustainable staffing structure, and (2) to reimagine ways to fulfill our mission of keeping orchestral music alive and thriving on the Iron Range. The first goal was accomplished. We successfully hired a general manager who has skills in both project management and fundraising, which is important in assuring that this position is sustainable. Her skills at networking and building connections with the community will aid in fundraising and in rebuilding our orchestra and audiences. The second goal was partially accomplished. We performed in April 2021 with strings only, and delivered the concert over the internet. This took more effort than we originally anticipated, because shutdowns interrupted rehearsals and made a planned February online concert impossible. We were unable to pursue other ideas mentioned in our application. We returned to performing as a full orchestra in October.