Category: Help Yourself

Dear Symphony Reader,

At Symphony we are committed to providing everyone in our field with a quality publication devoted to the important issues relevant to America’s orchestras. We know that our readers comprise board members, managers, musicians, and volunteers of symphony and youth orchestras. However, that is about all we know about you! The short questionnaire on the back side of this page is an attempt to better understand the readers of Symphony. Let me tell you why we are doing this.
 
We plan to increase our reach to potential advertisers. This will not be at the expense of our existing advertisers, to whom we are deeply grateful, nor will editorial excellence be affected. There is great potential for Symphony to tap new advertisers offering products and services that you value, such as airlines, hotels, financial services, and so on. But to do so we need advertisers to know the demographics of our readers.

This is where you can help. By completing the short questionnaire below, you will assist us in building a profile of our readership. Rest assured that no individual information will be shared or divulged; results will only be tallied in the aggregate. Thank you so much for your help. 

Take the Survey (and be entered to win an iPod!)  

Yours sincerely,

Stephen H. Alter
Director of Advertising
League of American Orchestras

Artists from Abroad – The Visa Webinar

Wednesday, September 23
12:00 noon Eastern:  Basic Webinar

Learn to navigate the rules and requirements of the U.S. artist visa process from Jonathan Ginsburg, immigration attorney and author of the visa section of artistsfromabroad.org.  Understanding the visa petition process can help you save time, money, and result in fewer sleepless nights!  This webinar will cover the basic procedures for successfully completing the visa petition process and consular interview requirements.  If your organization engages foreign artists, you won’t want to miss this!
 
Your questions are welcome in advance and will help shape the content and focus of the presentation!  To register, CLICK HERE.
 
Artists from Abroad – The Tax Webinar

Thursday, October 29  
12:00 noon Eastern:  Basic Webinar

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!  The U.S. tax requirements for foreign guest artists are vastly different than the laws for U.S. residents.  Do you have all the information you need to be in compliance with IRS requirements?  Learn the essentials about Internal Revenue Service (IRS) withholding rules from attorney Robyn Guilliams, contributor to the Artists from Abroad web site, including insight into tax treaties, the latest news regarding U.S. tax identification numbers, and tips for planning ahead to avoid last-minute tax mishaps.

Your questions are welcome in advance and will help shape the content and focus of the presentation!  To register, CLICK HERE.  

Tuition:  $85 for one webinar; $150 for both (for League members)   Register for both Artists from Abroad webinars and save!  

Are you proud of the work that your orchestra’s volunteers have done this year?

Has your volunteer association come up with project ideas that might be of value to other orchestras?

Are you familiar with the Gold Book Online?

The time is now to proudly herald the creativity and success of your 2008-2009 volunteer projects by submitting them for a Gold Book Online Award of Excellence!

The Gold Book Online is the information source for orchestra volunteers. This completely free resource allows volunteers and staff to learn what is working for other orchestras and adapt proven ideas to meet your organization’s goals. Volunteers are contributing in amazing ways to their orchestras. Did you know that there are 77 Communications and Technology projects listed on the Gold Book Online?  

Each fall, the Volunteer Council carefully selects the most unique and imaginative projects for Awards of Excellence. All entries are recognized online and winners present their work at the League’s Conference in June. 

Submitting your project information is easy: simply go to goldbookonline.org and follow the prompts. 

Deadline for consideration for the 2010 Awards of Excellence is September 1, 2009.

Posted August 10, 2009

Essentials of Orchestra Management – New York City, January 5-15, 2010

This is the year to invest in yourself. This intense, interactive eleven-day seminar is the learning and networking bootcamp you need to advance your career. Lead by seminar director Peter Pastreich, Essentials will expand your potential and provide a deeper understanding of the orchestra field. To learn more and to apply, click here.

Posted August 10, 2009

Economic Crossroads is a new feature of the League’s website designed to assist our members in addressing the challenges posed as we experience the continuing volatility of today’s economy.  Covering a range of areas – including financial management, advocacy, governance, development, public relations and human resources – Economic Crossroads is an ever-evolving source of information and timely resources designed to help you through this trying time. To see all that Economic Crossroads has to offer, click here.

New York State Council on the Arts makes annual announcement about The Musical Instrument Revolving Loan Fund (MIRF), a program designed to make high quality musical instruments available to nonprofit music organizations and member musicians to help stimulate the artistic growth of musicians.  The announcement includes eligibility requirement as well as the application procedure. 

For more information about this program, read the full announcement below.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT REVOLVING LOAN FUND

The Musical Instrument Revolving Loan Fund (MIRF) is a low-interest loan program designed to stimulate the artistic growth of musicians and ensembles by making high quality musical instruments available to nonprofit music organizations and member musicians.  Financed directly by the New York State Legislature and administered by NYSCA, the project makes loans for instruments to eligible nonprofit organizations at an annual finance charge of 3% over a period of up to eight years.  Only organizations already funded by NYSCA may apply.  Individuals may not apply.

These are the eligibility requirements.  The applicant organization:

•    Must have received funding from NYSCA for at least three consecutive years prior to the application for MIRF.
•    Is of high professional caliber and has as its sole purpose the creation, production, and performance of musical events; or, in the case of organization not primarily involved in music  (for example, an arts center, multi-media organization, arts council, museum, other cultural organization) has a proven track record of musical performances undertaken on a year-round basis;
•    Has a year-round administrator;
•    Has an active Board of Directors; and
•    Has a proven track record of fiscal stability.
•    If the applicant is a music presenter, it must have an ongoing series of at least a dozen musical events annually.

Examples of requests to the MIRF are (but are not limited to):

•    An orchestra seeking to purchase a harp, percussion instrument (s) and carrying case for same;
•    A music presenter in need of a piano or percussion or electronic musical instrument.

An organization may apply for up to the entire cost of the instrument; a down payment is desirable but not essential.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

The applicant organization sends a letter signed by an officer of the board, specifying the particular instrument(s) to be acquired and, if appropriate, for which musician (s); the cost of the instrument(s); where the purchase is being made; and what sort of insurance would be provided.   Most importantly, the applicant must describe how the instrument(s) would benefit the ensemble and/or the player(s). After receipt and examination of applicant letters and materials, the NYSCA Music Program staff and advisory panel will review each request and make a recommendation to the Council for a final decision.  Additional background information that might be helpful to the panel would be welcome.  Please keep materials as brief and clear as possible.

Applications and inquiries should be addressed to:

New York State Council on the Arts
175 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014-4604
Attention: Music Program

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009.

Loan recipients will be notified in January, 2010.  Loan notification will be made by NYSCA; contracts and purchases will be issued through the Theatre Development Fund, Inc.

INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT APPLY.  THEY MUST APPLY THROUGH THE NONPROFIT CORPORATION OF WHICH THEY ARE A MEMBER.

PLEASE NOTIFY ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR NYSCA-FUNDED ENSEMBLE ABOUT THIS OFFER.

Couldn’t make it to the League’s National Conference in Chicago? Listen to the keynote speech by Alberto Ibargüen, President & CEO, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s presentation: An Essential Partner in a Vibrant Community; League President and CEO Jesse Rosen’s address; the presentation of the 2009 Gold Baton to Henry Fogel, and much more!

Click here for 2009 Conference Speeches.