Attendance
In attendance: Hanan Bell, Joan Fairbanks, Charlotte Hotchkiss, Jackie Kirn, Teresa Metzger-Howe, Koko Morgan, Doug Potter, Bruce Sherman, Gennie Winkler, and Samantha Young
Minutes Approval
The minutes from the December 6, 2023 and January 31, 2024 Board meetings as well as the minutes from the February 7, 2024 General Meeting were approved.
Spring Concert Report
The Spring Concert at the National Nordic Heritage Museum was attended by 220 people. Over a $1,000 was collected. A video recording was made, but it didn't turn out. The audio portion was good. When Bruce gets the final version, he will send it to three retirement centers.
Grants
The King County Arts and culture grant money has come. The 4Culture grant next year is for $2,100. The paperwork has been completed and turned in. The paperwork for the Seattle grant still has to be completed. Jackie would like some more specifics on what the fund raising money will be used for. It would help her in her search for grants.
Publicity
To publicize the Spring Concert, Charlotte posted information on Facebook and printed concert information cards and programs. She would like to have a way to email concert information through Mailchimp or another program.
Website Updates
The website is in need of a facelift. It needs more color, larger fonts, and a more modern look. The our current web program is limited in its' html capabilities and cumbersome to navigate. A web program that could handle our requirements better needs to be found. Sam, Hanan, Teresa, Charlotte and Doug will explore options.
Membership
There were 65 members in the Symphony Spring Quarter of which 55 donated money. Several questions were posed concerning the non-paying members: "Should people be required to pay to be a member of the Symphony?", and "Should we go back to dues rather than donations?". It was suggested that a follow-up check with the people who haven't paid might be effective. A reminder that members need to give money to keep the Symphony going. Presenting the finances to the whole orchestra might help everyone understand why they need to donate. Perhaps a registration system via a card or on the website, where a donation/payment is expected, would get more people to donate/pay.
Venue for Next Season
We will need to pay more for a venue no matter where we book. The First Free Methodist Church near Seattle Pacific University is available on the dates we need. The rental cost for the church is $1,200 per concert. For the Fall quarter we would have to change the date to November. The church is not available after Thanksgiving.
Doug found another venue, the North Seattle Church, that might work. It would cost $200 per hour. Doug, Teresa, and Joan will check it out. The stage is narrow, but renting platforms to extend the stage might work.
Charge for Concerts
There is a need to bring in more income. Charging for concerts is a possibility. This topic needs more discussion.
Proposal to do Fall Concert Before Thanksgiving
The first rehearsal will be on September 4, 2024. This will enable us to use the First Free Methodist Church on November 20, 2024.
Finances
For the fiscal year of 2023 - 2024 we ran a deficit of $3,830. This is roughly the amount we paid in rent for National Nordic Heritage Museum.
Bruce presented a working budget for the next fiscal year. It reflected an increase in the cost of a concert location and paying the conductor. The Symphony will run a deficit again next year if the income doesn't increase over what was received this year.
Next Season's Program
Fall Concert Program
Richard Wagner (1813–1883), Lohengrin Prelude to Act III
Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828), Symphony No. 8 in B minor (“Unfinished”) D. 759 (1865)
Jules Massenet (1842-1912), Cendrillon Suite (1899)
Les filles de noblesse
Menuet de Cendrillon
Les tendres fiancés
Marche des princesses
Winter Concert Program
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Leonore Overture No. 3, op. 72b (1806)
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), Pavane pour une infante dèfunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess) (1899/1910)
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912), Four Characteristic Waltzes, Op. 22 (1899)
Spring Concert Program
Louise Farrenc (1804-1875), Overture in E minor, Op. 23 (1834)
Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884-1920), Poem for Flute and Orchestra (1918)
Sandra Saathoff, soloist
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908), Suite from the Opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Op. 57 (1903)
Introduction to Act I: "The Tsar's Departure And Farewell"
Introduction to Act II: "The Tsaritsa and Her Son Afloat in the Barrel"
Introduction to Act IV, Tableau 2: "The Three Wonders" («Три чуда»)
Email Business
Teresa's Bonus and Contract
The Board voted unanimously to give Teresa a bonus. Teresa has accepted the Symphony's contract offer for the 2024-2025 season.
Potential Concert Location
After visiting the North Seattle Church Doug, Teresa, and Joan decided it would not work for us as the stage was too shallow.
Summer Schedule
Symphony Board Summer Retreat
The Symphony Board Summer Retreat will be on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Doug's House at 2:00 p.m. Dinner will follow the retreat. Bring something to share.
Summer Picnic
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 6:00 pm at Magnuson Park, shelter 3.
