From the President

2009-10 Concert Season

Dear Richmond Philharmonic Patron:

Welcome to our 37th Concert Season, as Richmond's premier Community Orchestra. As you know, our Orchestra is comprised entirely of volunteer semi-professional and advanced amateur musicians, who work hard each season to bring you the world's great classical music in family-friendly environments. This year, we'll again present our three Great Works Concerts, each with one performance at VCU's centrally-located Singleton Center, and with a repeat performance elsewhere in the City of Richmond, Henrico or Chesterfield County. In addition, we'll again bring you our popular Holiday Gala at the James Center, and our highly-anticipated outdoor summer concert, on the water, at Brandermill. Also this year, we'll continue encouraging young musicians in central Virginia, by holding our annual Youth Concerto Competition. And, as usual, the winner will perform with us at our May, 2010, Great Works Concert. It's a great season, and I hope you'll hear us as often as you can.

I'm sure you realize that the last several years have been increasingly difficult for many nonprofit arts organizations. Almost weekly, we hear of an orchestra somewhere having severe financial problems, with some reaching the point of ceasing operations. In light of the many great cultural benefits that flow from broad public access to the world's great art music, it's clear that we, as a society, are facing a growing problem, and we need to address it sooner, rather than later.

On the one hand, I'm happy to assure you that, in light of our highly efficient cost structure, and especially because of the continuing support of donors like you and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Richmond Philharmonic will, again this year, be able bring you our full schedule of classical and family music programming. And, if our recent history is any guide, thousands and thousands of people will benefit as a result. On the other hand, we need to ask you again, especially in the current recessionary economy, for all the support you're able to give us - both by attending our concerts, and by making donations, however and wherever they're possible.

When you attend our concerts, you'll notice a basket at the door, and a sign suggesting donations of $5.00 per person, $10.00 per family. As you know, we don't have ticketed admissions, and we don't turn anyone away for inability to pay. But, we depend on your awareness, as a patron, of the fact that, even in light of our all-volunteer musical efforts, it still costs thousands of dollars to bring you each performance.

We meet these costs in two ways. First, we depend on your regular contributions at the door to help defray part of the expenses of each concert you attend. Recently, these revenues have been lower than usual. We look forward to seeing you at each concert, and hope you'll return time after time. And when you attend, please also do all you can to help us defray the costs of the concert.

Also, as many of you know, musical arts organizations are rarely able to cover their overall operating costs from admissions at the gate, even if every attendee is a paying customer. The Richmond Philharmonic is no different in this regard, although we believe every dollar we receive goes much farther, because all our musicians are unpaid volunteers. Again this year, in addition to receipts at the door, we'll rely on the wonderful whole-season support of donors like you, to help balance our budget. Many of you have regularly supported us in the past, and for that we're extremely grateful. It's hardly an overstatement to say you're the people who really make the difference, year to year, between our continued success, and the many difficulties that would arise from organizational financial problems.

For the 2009-10 Concert Season, the members of the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra will again do all we can to bring you exciting, high-level performances of the world's great music. Please do your part so that, together, we'll all have a successful 37th Concert Season.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you at our performances.

Durwood Felton, President
Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra