Project Grant

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$8,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Central Minnesota Youth Orchestra
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2022
End Date
May 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Benton
Sherburne
Stearns
Wright
Todd
Todd
Benton
Sherburne
Stearns
Wright
Todd
Todd
Project Overview

Project Grant

Project Details

CREATION: Lands Beyond. This Fall's theme will be related to sounds of locations including places like Appalachians and Hebrides from Scotland, and the composer's interpretation of the sensation of a place in a natural environment.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Buddy King: CMAB Board Char, St Cloud Playwright, percussionist, teaching artist, engaged in numerous youth arts initiatives in the community; Sean Donahue: CMAB Board Tresurer, Performing arts technician; Professional light and sound designer, operator and trainer; Musician with musical instrument, equipment retail experience; Large event and project manager; Denise Todd: CMAB Board Member, Dance Valdosta State University; U.S. Air Force Veteran, Geospatial Intelligence Analyst; undergraduate at St. Cloud State University pursuing a Major in Community Health; Jo McMullen-Boyer: CMAB Board Member, Station Manage of KVSC Radio, Grant writer, Music Concert Projucer, Community Events Organizer; Tanya Piatz-Sandberg: CMAB Board Member, Visual Merchandiser with 3D display experience, fashion, event execution, and corporate shop concepts; 2D visual artist specializing in illustration and photography Spencer Madsen: CMAB Board Member, Writer; educator; theatrical performer; aspiring filmmaker and visual artist; B.A. in English Education; M.A. in American Literature; orchardist at Clear Lake Cider; Gretchen Boulka: CMAB Board Member, Director of Performing Arts at Paramount Center for the Arts, arts administrator with background in development, special events, program management, marketing and communications; musician, member of the Association for Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) and on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Presenters Network;

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Buddy King: CMAB Board Char, St Cloud Playwright, percussionist, teaching artist, engaged in numerous youth arts initiatives in the community; Sean Donahue: CMAB Board Tresurer, Performing arts technician; Professional light and sound designer, operator and trainer; Musician with musical instrument, equipment retail experience; Large event and project manager; Denise Todd: CMAB Board Member, Dance Valdosta State University; U.S. Air Force Veteran, Geospatial Intelligence Analyst; undergraduate at St. Cloud State University pursuing a Major in Community Health; Jo McMullen-Boyer: CMAB Board Member, Station Manage of KVSC Radio, Grant writer, Music Concert Projucer, Community Events Organizer; Tanya Piatz-Sandberg: CMAB Board Member, Visual Merchandiser with 3D display experience, fashion, event execution, and corporate shop concepts; 2D visual artist specializing in illustration and photography Spencer Madsen: CMAB Board Member, Writer; educator; theatrical performer; aspiring filmmaker and visual artist; B.A. in English Education; M.A. in American Literature; orchardist at Clear Lake Cider; Gretchen Boulka: CMAB Board Member, Director of Performing Arts at Paramount Center for the Arts, arts administrator with background in development, special events, program management, marketing and communications; musician, member of the Association for Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) and on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Presenters Network;

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2021, First Special Session, chapter 1, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$8,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$2,862
Direct expenses
$10,862
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

CMYO plans to continue to expand further than in-person by providing live streaming with the option to view at a later time. This should open more opportunities for family and friends who would usually find it difficult to attend. We will monitor attendance both online and in-person, plus evaluate how many viewed after the stream. The experience viewing options will be advertised prior to the concert via Facebook and Around the Cloud. Students will study through the Discovery Class how composers connected locations/lands to music. This will include composers' lives, their heritage, listening examples, and potentially performing pieces from Baroque to modern times. CMYO plans to have a guest from St Cloud State University visit during the Discovery Class to talk about Native Americans' connection to music and nature. The guest will offer a background about the heritage and offer demonstrations of music and possibly instruments from the Native American culture. CMYO seeks ways to guide students to a new approach to how music influences life and understanding the demands and satisfaction of making powerful music come alive. We hope to see new audiences find our orchestra concept progressive that challenges the norm for orchestral experiences in the central Minnesota region. For returning audiences, we hope they will find pride in the work that has been accomplished since the beginning of the summer of 2013. Central Minnesota Youth Orchestra will increase the number of students who participate in our program compared to last Fall. Additionally, CMYO will target to retain at least (70%) of their student base. Out of 30 students, CMYO expects to maintain the current students under the current COVID situation. Since 2013, the student numbers have increased the student attendance in the beginning years. As of late, we are maintaining around 30 to 35 students per year. With changes in schools and recent cuts and the ongoing COVID, we have seen a slight decline. We are engaging schools to find ways that we can help advocate for their programs and continue our strategy for growth within a quality program. We expect the attendance to increase once the COVID crisis is under better control and the assistance of a new managerial position is established. CMYO is focused to gain numbers towards 35 to 45 students into the 2022-2023 season.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Students learned how nature influenced composers to write music about nature like seasons and places with strong imagery. Students heard music through listening examples. Guest artist and Native American lecturer, Keith Secola provided historical background on Native American music, music examples, and play-along music with the students. The concerts performed pieces inspired by nature.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
Achieved proposed outcomes
Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
John Carlton: President,John Johnson: Vice President,Hans Mersinger: Treasurer,Janelle Carlton: Secretary,David Arnott: Board Member
Project Manager
First Name
Hans
Last Name
Mersinger
Organization Name
Central Minnesota Youth Orchestra
Street Address
606 Wilson Ave NE
City
St Cloud
State
MN
Zip Code
56304
Phone
(320) 227-6847
Email
cmyo.manager@gmail.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 or Toll Free: 866-825-1471