| |
About the Symphony League
The Symphony League began in 1960 as an outgrowth of the American Association of University Women, and was called the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra Women’s Association until 1972. Under the leadership of Lois Sidenberg, the first president, these women made it their mission to support interest in and growth of the Orchestra through financial assistance and promotion. These dedicated women assumed responsibility for ticket sales and contributed their time to office work and fundraising. The first operating budget was just under $22,000, a majority of which was raised by the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra Women’s Association. Fundraising activities throughout the years have ranged from bake sales, fashion shows, and home tours to luncheons and balls. The first Symphony ball was held in 1963 with Catherine Gray as honorary chair.
The name of the organization was officially changed to the Santa Barbara Symphony League in 1972. Since then, the League has done much to promote and provide cultural enrichment to the community. Concert previews presented by the Symphony’s conductors were started to give the public a chance to enhance their knowledge and enjoyment of the upcoming concerts and continue today. League members also continue to purchase tickets for community outreach programs that serve those who cannot afford to attend the concerts.
 |
Erno Daniel, the Symphony's first full time conductor at a Youth Concert |
Besides fundraising, League members contribute thousands of hours each year for various projects. They run the Symphony’s Music Van Program, which brings music into third grade classrooms each year. Concerts for Young People, sponsored by the League, are held at the Arlington Theatre four times per year and allow thousands of area school children and their teachers to enjoy special symphony concerts.
To this day the Symphony League is the largest single donor, having contributed in excess of 1 million dollars to the Santa Barbara Symphony within the past thirty years. |
Music Van
Music Van - Sign up Online
Winner of the 2007 Sally Parker Education Gold Award from the American Symphony Orchestra League! |
The Santa Barbara Symphony’s Music Van Mobile Classroom program has been in operation since 1978. The Van, donated by Marilynn and Tom Sullivan, is full of orchestral instruments, donated by Nick Rail Music, and annually visits all third grade classrooms in the greater Santa Barbara area from September through December. The Van is quickly booked every year and serves about 2,000 students in more than 40 schools. A favorite with children, the Music Van is often the first time many of them can see and “play” an instrument. |
|
Docents conduct a one-hour session with the students. In the first half hour they talk about the orchestra, conductor, and the instruments. They use a CD to demonstrate the sound of each instrument. A professional musician accompanies the team and demonstrates an instrument group (strings, woodwinds, brass, or percussion). During the second half hour the children try out all the instruments. This is the most fun part for them! There are usually two one-hour sessions at a school, and the teachers LOVE the program.
From January to June the Van travels to San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria.
Click here for a mail-in form to receive information about becoming a Music Van docent and/or making a donation to the Music Van!
Click here for Music Van Docent Packet Handouts.
Click here for Project Description (ASOL conference).
For information about joining
the Santa Barbara Symphony League email:
Sally Vito, Membership Chairman svito@housing.ucsb.edu
Lois Duncan, League President loi4jac@aol.com
|
| |
|
|
|
