Page 7 - GTMF Capital Campaign 2024
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“ There is something truly special
about the combination of a
dedicated staff, enthusiastic
musicians, adoring audiences,
and beautiful surroundings that
bring us back, year after year.”
– Jennifer Humphreys, cello, St. Louis Symphony (GTMF, 10 years)
Sustain Artistic Excellence
The experience of performing in the Festival Orchestra To address the issue, GTMF plans to double Festival
is world-class. The way we compensate our musicians Orchestra honorariums within three years. Without
is not. Until this year, section musicians in the Festival our musicians, there is no Festival, no concerts, and no
Orchestra had not received an increase since 2008. free community programs. Increasing compensation now
GTMF’s weekly pay lags behind peers like the Colorado will position the Festival to continue to attract and retain
Music Festival and Sun Valley Music Festival. the very best players. These artists are the foundation of
our impact.
In surveys, 60% of musicians indicated they lose
money playing with the Festival each summer. Money Why have we waited to make this important adjustment?
isn’t the reason musicians come here, and it shouldn’t be Simply put, our annual budget has not allowed us to make
the reason they don’t. If we do nothing, it threatens the a shift of this magnitude, especially against a backdrop of
excellence of the music and the unique experience at rapidly escalating housing costs. It will take new endowment
GTMF. Once lost, the magic that comes from the talented funds to make the change permanent and create
and passionate musicians, and the special interaction opportunities for future increases, resolving this issue
they have with each other and the audience, would be that has been left unaddressed for far too long.
difficult to recapture.
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