The New West Symphony announced today that it has received a $10,000 grant from the Annenberg Foundation’s Alchemy program and a $3,500 grant from the League of American Orchestras to support the development of a four-year strategic plan as the Symphony approaches its 25th anniversary celebration during the 2019-2020 concert season.
“A sound strategic plan clarifies the steps necessary to achieve our mission of inspiring passion for symphonic music in the community,” said NWS Board Chair Paul Finkel. “We are deeply appreciative to the Annenberg Foundation and the League of American Orchestras whose support will be invaluable in helping us set a path towards a bright and sustainable future.”
The strategic plan to be developed by the symphony will build on the organization’s numerous past successes, both on stage and in the community, while creating a roadmap for a continuing artistic growth. The plan will also address the upcoming search for a new Music Director and his/her role in the larger community. In the past several years, the Symphony has successfully collaborated with a number of community organizations including California Lutheran University, California State University Channel Islands, 16 school districts, and numerous local charities to expose local residents to the beauty of symphonic music. The strategic plan will explore the expansion of these and other partnerships to widen audience and outreach potential.
“The New West Symphony, along with many orchestras across the United States, is faced with increasing competition from other forms of entertainment and the other ways people can spend their leisure dollars,” said NWS Executive Director Natalia Staneva. “Challenges like these bring new opportunities, and I am looking forward to working with our board, musicians, New West Symphony League volunteers and local leaders so the community can enjoy the benefits of having a professional orchestra in their backyard for decades to come.”
The League of American Orchestras Noteboom Governance Center Grants for Board Development provides financial support to orchestra boards to strengthen their governance practices. The Annenberg Foundation’s Alchemy program provides grants for capacity building upon completion of a program of leadership seminars comprised of the basic course called Alchemy, and a more advanced course called Alchemy+. Both Staneva and Finkel attended all sessions together for 13 months since March 2015 to better align the staff and board in a common purpose.
About the New West Symphony
Founded in 1995, the New West Symphony is a professional orchestra that draws its players from the rich talent pool of professional Los Angeles-area musicians. The Symphony is the resident company of the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, and Barnum Hall in Santa Monica. It presents six Masterpiece Series concerts annually, performing major works from the symphonic repertoire with internationally-acclaimed artists as guest soloists. It also provides quality outreach and educational opportunities for the communities it serves through its annual Symphonic Adventures concert programs for youth, its traveling Music Van, and its New West Symphony Harmony Project of Ventura County, an after-school, tuition-free music education program for underserved students. More information is available at www.newwestsymphony.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newwestsymphony.
