Art Project Grant
Art Project Grant
Mesabi Symphony Orchestra will present a concert, Elements: Earth, Water, Air and Fire, on Saturday, February 7 in Ely and on Sunday, February 8 in Virginia. The program will feature On the Beautiful Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss II, The Lark Ascending” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, And God Created Great Whales” by Alan Hovhaness, West Side Story Selections” by Leonard Bernstein, and Berceuse and Finale from Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky. The Lark Ascending will feature principal second violinist Keiko Williams as soloist.
Erling Ellison: jewelry designer and creator, speech coach and judge, director of Garrison Art Fair; Ken Bloom: Director of Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota-Duluth; Janeen Carey: vocalist, retired Hibbing Community College librarian and information media specialist; Kate Fitzgerald: Program Director North Shore Music Association, writer; Peter Pestalozzi: furniture maker, wood worker; Catherine Meier: website designer, printmaker, drawer, animator; David Beard: Assistant Professor of University of Minnesota-Duluth writing studies; Mark King: actor, theater reviewer, musician; Adam Guggemos: graphic designer, art events promoter; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; Ashley Leek: student of Art Education at University of Minnesota-Duluth, ceramic artist, art educator; John Gregor: photographer, art educator, community art advocate; Ann Russ: music performer, community song leader, choir director, workshop leader, past director and founder of North Shore Music Association Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Dana Mattice: Development and Communications Director of The Art Institute Duluth.
Erling Ellison: jewelry designer and creator, speech coach and judge, director of Garrison Art Fair; Ken Bloom: Director of Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota-Duluth; Janeen Carey: vocalist, retired Hibbing Community College librarian and information media specialist; Kate Fitzgerald: Program Director North Shore Music Association, writer; Peter Pestalozzi: furniture maker, wood worker; David Beard: Assistant Professor of University of Minnesota-Duluth writing studies; Mark King: actor, theater reviewer, musician; Adam Guggemos: graphic designer, art events promoter; John Gregor: photographer, art educator, community art advocate; Ann Russ: music performer, community song leader, choir director, workshop leader, past director and founder of North Shore Music Association; Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Dana Mattice: Development and Communications Director of The Art Institute Duluth.
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Robert DeArmond (218) 722-0952
ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage
Mesabi Symphony Orchestra’s artistic goal is professional-level performances of the standards of the orchestral repertoire, achieved through weekly rehearsals and strong leadership from the podium and principal positions. Measurable short-term outcomes for this project include (1) maintaining membership at 42 musicians or more; (2) drawing audiences of 150 or more at each concert location; and (3) meeting budget. Longer-range outcomes for this project include a thriving arts scene on the Iron Range, greater interest in the study of music in our schools, growing audiences for orchestra concerts, and growing financial support for the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra.The board will assess whether the artistic goal has been achieved through consultation with the artistic director and conductor immediately following the performances. The Mesabi Symphony Orchestra board tracks orchestra membership and concert attendance on an ongoing basis. The financial results for this project will be collected by the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra board and evaluated at a board meeting. The board of Mesabi Symphony Orchestra will track audience size and financial support over time to determine whether the measurable long-term outcomes are being met. We have made a commitment to participate in the Cultural Data Project, and believe the Cultural Data Project will give us a better way to monitor progress toward achieving the long-term outcomes.
Measurable short-term outcomes for this project included (1) maintaining membership at 42 musicians or more; (2) drawing audiences of 150 or more at each concert location; and (3) meeting budget. Mesabi Community Orchestra membership actually increased to 45, audiences were 200 or more in both locations, and we realized a budget surplus. Longer-range outcomes for this project include a thriving arts scene on the Iron Range, greater interest in the study of music in our schools, growing audiences for orchestra concerts, and growing financial support for the Mesabi Community Orchestra. One indication that the longer-range outcome will be met is that five teenagers have joined the Mesabi Community Orchestra, including one young man first exposed to the Mesabi Community Orchestra through this collaboration. Mesabi Community Orchestra included an audience survey in programs, and 43 surveys were returned. Of these, 19 people were attending their first Mesabi Community Orchestra concert. All respondents reported that they liked both the program and the orchestra's performance. These are a few comments received: *Bravo for bringing a symphony to Ely! * It was wonderful to see the students join the orchestra for a couple of pieces. Great way to encourage the youth to stay involved in music. * Loved Keiko's violin solo. And God Created Great Whales" was spectacular! * I liked that they included the high school students. * Wonderful soloist. Unique whale piece and soothing first half. * Very unusual music - (the whales) - LOVED Blue Danube. Great Concert. * Easy to listen to. I especially enjoyed "The Great Whales." * I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the musicianship in an area so far removed from a university program. This project reached its target audience and drew more young people than other recent performances. Mesabi Community Orchestra distributes free tickets to students, and 51 were returned for this concert series."
Other, local or private