Greenbelt Community Orchestra
Board Meeting Minutes
August 26, 2024, at 7:00 PM
Attending in person:
Board: Anne Gardner, Susan Stewart, Sarah Wissel, Sarah Rusk, Katie McCarthy
Members: None
Should we cancel rehearsal on Halloween? Move it to Tuesday? Send out a survey?
The board decided to survey members at rehearsal with a survey to fill out during break
[Post meeting note: Anne reported that Derek is not available on Halloween, so we will move the rehearsal to Tuesday.]
The Greenbelt Concert Band reached out to inform us that they spent $1400 on timpani repair and to ask if the Orchestra would make a contribution. Timani does not often need repair and this is the first time that GCB has made a repair.
Considering the Orchestra has not been using the timpani for very long, but also that we are allowed the use of the timpani without charge, the board decided to offer a contribution of $250.
The current bank balance is $3212.19. Since June 30, we have spent $171 and received $1150 in income from donations.
Regarding the Greenbelt City grant for the February concert, all receipts must be saved to provide to the City for reimbursement.
Sarah W. reported that, as expected, we have been charged a bank fee from Bank of America. Sarah W. has a virtual appointment w/ Truist on Tuesday 8/27, and if all looks good will move forward with switching banks.
Susan has been using FedEx, but it seems expensive. Anne recommended looking into using the library for printing.
For the February concert, we will print everything. It will be all rental music.
The February concert will be a Greenbelt City event for Black History Month. They will promote it and may cover printing the program.
Derek has been having conversations with a living composer for the February concert. The piece may cost around $600 for a 20 min piece. [Post meeting note: The piece was invoiced for $200]
Other composers may include Florence Price & William Grant Still.
Susan mentioned that Jonathan will be in the November concert and will not be able to manage the sound recording. Anne will bring this up at rehearsal and ask if anyone knows of a person who could fill in.
The board discussed strategies for handling children at concerts.
In June, Jutta from the viola section reached out about a local black woman composer, Veronica Maidoha, who is willing to write a piece of music for the Orchestra. The board discussed if we should commission a short piece for the February concert.
Since we will already be playing music from a living composer at the Feb concert, and because of the short timeline for February, the board decided to plan for a commissioned piece by Veronica for the June concert.
We have not yet reached out to find out what her fee would be.
Anne recommended we pick a different date than Greenbelt Day. The GCB traditionally plays on Greenbelt Day.
Should we try to have our Spring concert at a different venue? This would be an expense and possibly mean hauling percussion instruments. Anne thinks it would be best to keep the concerts in Greenbelt. This leaves Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS) as the most viable option.
Anne heard that it costs $1600 to play at the Northwestern High School auditorium. She has not been able to get information on using the ERHS auditorium
Janet from the oboe section reached out to the ERHS band director to ask about the possibility of a collaboration with them. A collaboration would also give us the opportunity to play in the ERHS auditorium. The band director responded that he likes collaborations.
Susan proposed as a way of collaborating to have a concerto competition for one of the high schoolers to play a movement of a concerto with the Orchestra.
Anne will set up a meeting with the ERHS band director after Labor Day.
Anne received an email about promoting an independent film called Maestra as a way of fundraising through a site called Bingeable.
Anne researched Bingeable - it doesn’t appear to be a scam. Sarah W. will create a Bingeable account and look into it further.
Information Day
Farmer’s Market
The Empty Bowls event will be held at St Hugh’s to raise money for their food pantry. TIckets are sold for soup and a handmade ceramic bowl. They have requested the orchestra quartet to play for the event. Sarah W. will ask the flutes if they will play.
Sectionals - There should be another one before the concert. Anne will reach out to conductors. Halloween week was suggested as an option, but that week would not be ideal being only 2 weeks before the concert
Sarah W. suggested whoever isn’t involved in sectionals could go socialize at the New Deal.
Community Center Rooms - The City Council will be having a worksession about the community center room policy and allowing community groups use of various rooms. Changes to the policy will hopefully let the Orchestra use room 201. It is currently empty during rehearsal time.
Meeting adjourned at 08:10 PM