Volunteer Notes A PUBLICATION OF THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS VOLUNTEER COUNCIL

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The League of American Orchestras Volunteer Council leads, advocates, and champions volunteer organizations in their efforts to support their orchestras' community outreach and civic partnerships to advance the experience of orchestral music.

Winter 2022 Edition

Darlene Clark, Volunteer Notes Editor | edwincf@swbell.net

In This Issue

A Message from Our President

LA Conference: A Great Networking & Learning Experience You Won't Want to Miss

Learn More About the Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates and Walt Disney Concert Hall

Gold Award of Excellence: Announcing the 2022 Winners and Classic Award Winner!

Congratulations to our 2022 Spotlight Winners

The Volunteer Council

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

By Julie Meredith, Volunteer Council President

As the pandemic stretches into its second year, our hearts are lifted by the many fabulous volunteers across the country who are stepping up to the challenge and supporting their orchestras. We have seen creativity and resourcefulness which sparks the imagination.

One of my favorite programs offered by the Volunteer Council is Strategic Conversations. Each fall we hold a series of five weekly discussions with incoming presidents and presidents-elect of volunteer organizations on topics of interest to the group. Past topics have included strategic planning, membership, diversity, fundraising, technology, and social media. These informal discussions offered the ability to share ideas, successes, and challenges. No matter the size of the volunteer group, each deal with many of the same issues. Watch for the sign up this summer to participate next Fall. And in the meantime, you can find minutes from past Strategic Conversations here. These minutes provide a wealth of information on subjects of importance to orchestra volunteers.

The Volunteer Council has been busy designing exciting programs for volunteers at the 2022 League of American Orchestras’ National Conference on June 1-3 hosted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in partnership with the Association for California Symphony Orchestras. Ginny Lundquist, our wonderful conference chair, is leading a dedicated group of planners. I invite each of you to join us in Los Angeles for Conference. You can find more details in Ginny’s article, later in this issue.

LA CONFERENCE: A GREAT NETWORKING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS JUNE 1-3, 2022

By Ginny Lundquist, Volunteer Council Conference Chair

Volunteers at Conference will enjoy a wide variety of experiences this year. Here’s an overview of what is planned each day as well as helpful information on meals, registration, and the Conference hotel.

Tuesday, May 31

Meet fellow volunteers from across the country at Dine-Arounds (optional), held at several venues within walking distance of the Conference hotel. You will be joined by members of the League Volunteer Council who will facilitate conversation in each small group. This is the first of many formal and informal networking opportunities throughout Conference and is a great way to network before the first volunteer-specific sessions begin on Wednesday. Sign up when you register for Conference.

Wednesday, June 1

The Volunteer Track of Conference opens with a morning panel discussion by members of the LA Phil’s Affiliates who support the operations of the orchestra. There are 17 separate LA Phil volunteer groups with over 850 members. Complimentary coffee and muffins will be served at what promises to be an informative panel discussion.

In the afternoon, the volunteer session will feature presentations by three 2021 Gold Award of Excellence winners. These awards recognize best-in-class volunteer projects completed within the 2020-2021 season. This will be followed by an all-delegate reception at the Westin, and a Q&A session with LA Phil Maestro, Gustavo Dudamel, and performance by the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Thursday, June 2

In the morning, delegates can choose among Elective sessions offered across a variety of focus areas. This will be followed by the League’s Annual Meeting Luncheon at the Westin. This all-delegate event is included in the Conference registration fee.

After the Annual Meeting, volunteer sessions will resume, featuring presentations by three Gold Award winners and six Spotlight Award winners. Spotlight Awards recognize a specific tactic or best practice in successful volunteer projects.

Dinner is on your own, before a stirring LA Philharmonic performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall that evening. Prior to the concert, there will be a pre-concert lecture and following the performance, all Conference delegates are invited to the Tune-up Party. This party, hosted by the LA Phil and included with your registration, is always a lively and fun-filled event with music, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Note: advance concert tickets are purchased through the box office rather than being part of registration. Safety Note: At this time, the concert hall requires a face mask, proof of vaccination plus boosters, and a photo ID for admittance to the hall. Should safety requirements change, the League will inform all attendees in advance.

Friday, June 3

Start your day by walking through the exhibit hall, meeting with the League’s business partners, and enjoying coffee and a bagel, before heading to another round of Elective sessions. Later that morning there will be an education-focused volunteer session plus two more Spotlight Award presentations. Stay tuned for details.

Conference concludes at 1:00 p.m. Explore LA on your own in the afternoon and then enjoy an optional concert at the fabulous Hollywood Bowl that evening.

Registration Instructions for Volunteers

A specific volunteer constituency “track” is provided to all those registering as a volunteer. There will be super early bird and early bird discounted rates, as well as volunteer group pricing (3+ members from the same organization). Conference registration will begin in March. Discounted rates are available to those who act before April 21 (Super Early Bird rate) or May 12 (Early Bird rate). More information will be available once registration opens in March. The Conference website is leagueconference.org. Important: If you have an established League of American Orchestras account ( accounts are free for volunteers at member orchestras*), you will need to be logged in to register as a member for the 2022 National Conference.

*If your orchestra is a member of the League, your volunteer organization is also a member; ask your orchestra’s administrator to add your name to their League membership roster. Your volunteer association can also independently join, separately from your orchestra, and have its own membership roster. We don’t recommend trying to create your own account; you will not be able to add yourself to your organization’s existing membership. If you are not sure if you are part of a member orchestra, would like to join as a volunteer association, or have additional questions, contact member@americanorchestras.org.

Meals

Most meals will be on your own, unless noted above. There are several cafes in the hotel and a very busy Starbucks nearby. Many restaurants, fast food outlets, and food trucks are within walking distance of the hotel and concert hall.

Hotel

The Westin Bonaventure is the host hotel. Reserve your room online via the League Conference website or call (213) 624-1000 and specify that you are with the League of American Orchestras group. Reservations must be made by May 9 to receive the League discounted rate. When you arrive at Conference proceed to the League Registration Desk to provide vaccination status (you may submit your vaccination card in advance of the meeting, use the Bindle app, or show your vaccination card at the event), pick up your name badge, event tickets, and the latest Conference information. Please note that the hotel does not have an airport shuttle - you must use a taxi, Uber or Lyft, or arrange a limo service. Safety Note: The hotel currently recommends face masks be worn throughout the hotel. However, the League requires that all attendees be vaccinated and face masked for entry to any Conference activities.

Look for more details in the next issue of Volunteer Notes!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC AFFILIATES AND WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL

By Liz Shafer, LA Conference Volunteer Liaison

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association eagerly anticipates the League of American Orchestras’ 77th National Conference. In-person events and seminars will be held in downtown Los Angeles at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Walt Disney Concert Hall (WDCH), and in the Judith and Thomas L. Beckman YOLA Center in Inglewood.

Founded in 1919 by philanthropist and amateur musician William Andrews Clark, Jr., the Philharmonic’s “winter season” now makes its home at Walt Disney Concert Hall from October through May. For its July through September “summer season,” the orchestra moves to the landmark Hollywood Bowl. Gustavo Dudamel serves as the Music Director, with Esa-Pekka Salonen as Conductor Laureate, and Zubin Mehta as Conductor Emeritus.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry, is an internationally recognized architectural landmark and one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world. From the curved stainless-steel exterior to the stunning wood-paneled main auditorium, the 3.6-acre complex embodies the unique energy of Los Angeles and its signature orchestra.

A major volunteer support group, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates, comprised of 17 committees, benefits the self-styled “LA Phil.” Its members are advocates, ambassadors, donors, subscription holders, and fundraisers for the institution. The first committee, “The Women’s Committee,” was formed in the 1920s.

Today, the committees are co-ed and geographically scattered throughout Greater Los Angeles. The most recent, “The Desert Committee,” was formed in Palm Springs, California, in 2018. Individual members and committees hold active memberships in the Association of Major Symphony Orchestra Volunteers, as well as the Association of California Symphony Orchestras that will be partnering with the League Conference this year.

The Affiliates are deeply involved with youth music education. The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Toyota Symphonies for Youth subscription series allows parents and children to enjoy hearing a concert together. The Symphonies for Schools programs introduce thousands of students from the Los Angeles area to age-appropriate concerts at WDCH. The Affiliates volunteer for both programs by visiting schools prior to the concerts and purchasing tickets for schools in their community.

We hope you enjoy the hospitality of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association during your stay in Los Angeles. See you in June!

GOLD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: ANNOUNCING THE 2022 WINNERS!

By Laurie Skjerseth, Awards Chair

Innovation, best practice, return on investment, volunteer involvement, and impact describe projects from across the nation that will be featured during the League of American Orchestras’ National Conference in Los Angeles this June. Six Gold Award of Excellence winners, chosen from submissions sent from volunteer organizations across the country, will be recognized and featured during Volunteer Track sessions.

Enjoy a thumbnail sketch of each project – in the words of their creators -- to get a glimpse of what you will learn from the presentations of these award-winning projects. The following are listed in alphabetical order by symphony name.