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Project Contact:
Annie Linn     lalinns@accesswest.com

Volunteer Organization Name:
Friends of Music Guild

Orchestra Name:
Orchestra of Southern Utah

City:
Cedar City

State/Province:
UT

Meeting group size of the orchestra:
Group 8

Number of active members in the volunteer organization?
26-50

Name of the project:
Africa

Project Description:
Experiencing a timeless picture of life on the African plains through hot strings and cool percussion, local and international audiences traveled through space and time to “Africa” with demonstrations, concerts, workshops, displays, activities, and interactive podcasts reaching over a million listeners from around the world.

Original music written by two popular young composers enabled the “Africa” project experience to attract and educate new and diverse audiences -- the young, people of color, those bored or jaded with conventional orchestral fare, those who do not normally attend classical concerts, and even people as far away as Nigeria.

The project began with a week of outreach programs for 3,218 students in 6 elementary school and 1 preschool featuring an African American professional story teller who used stories, singing, and percussion performance. Thirty students and community members enjoyed a university seminar with the composers which became part of the OSU website podcast. All performances were designed to educate and build community interest in African music, and increase attendance at Children and Adult concerts scheduled in Feb. 2008.

Over 500 experienced the Saturday Children’s “Africa” themed concert at the Heritage Center with pre and post concert educational displays, themed science projects, music and art activities for children of all ages. The concert featured children’s participation in African call and response, rhythms and patterns of music, along with a preview of the new “Africa” symphony. OSU volunteers staffed all performances and activities.

The Adult concert also reached over 600 participants with African choral, jazz and percussive themes, culminating in the world premiere of the new “Africa” symphony underwritten by the National Endowment for the Arts with matching local funds. Southern Utah University partnered in the performances, providing space, percussive instruments, musicians and chorus conducted by University professionals.

Role and number of volunteers involved:
1. Two volunteers started the project and preliminary planning.
2. 22 volunteers helped with set up, lunch, activities and clean up.
3. Staff involvement included publicity, graphic design, assisting with the assemblies, contacting display artists, book-keeping, and performing in the concerts.

Planning Start Date:
N/A

Project Dates:
N/A

Gross revenue from all sources:
$21,193.00

Total expenses for this project:
$20,063.00

Net Revenue (Expense):
$1,130.00

The total value of all in-kind contributions of donated products and services.
Larkin Art Work on display 3,000 African Percussion 1,000 Gourds 100 Painting supplies 100 UPR (radio promotion) 200 Spectrum Ads (newspaper promotion) 500 Meals for Composers and guest artist 200 Musicians who donate back stipend 2400 Bard’s Inn, reduced rate 40 Janice materials, 7 assemblies, and travel 2000 Photographs for documentation 600 SUU Recital Hall for Composer Seminar 100 Drum Circle performers in pre-show 200