Improvisation There’S a Lot of Words We Could Use to Describe the Past CHAIR TRUSTEES Year, but We Believe Improvisation: the Art of Executing Without Jayne R
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2020The Year of Improvisation There’s a lot of words we could use to describe the past CHAIR TRUSTEES year, but we believe improvisation: the art of executing without Jayne R. Schaeffer, Michael D. Anderson previous preparation, defines our 2020. Led by a village of music CPA Martha Aynardi, Ph.D. Melissa G. Brewer, Ed.D. educators, music professionals, and student musicians, we VICE-CHAIR OF FINANCE Virginia Dodge experienced and experimented with the art of virtual music as Lewis D. Freeman, III Tim Haynes music rooms and living rooms converted to recording studios Ann Gallen Moll and computers transformed into concert halls. VICE-CHAIR OF Tahj S. Morales PROGRAMS Srividya Ramanathan We are all looking forward to the months that follow as we’re Benjamin Delp Watts, David W. Swartz able to return to concert halls and full rehearsal rooms. But as Ph.D. Jamie Thompson we return to those moments of normalcy, may we not forget the moments that brought us joy during these difficult times. TREASURER HONORARY TRUSTEES Timothy J. Simmons, Bruce P. Bengtson Moments like: CPA Donald C. Bristol John T. Connelly n Family music sessions, as parents pulled out their old ASSISTANT TREASURER Bruce L. Dietrich instruments to play alongside their children. Sandra B. Kern, D.Ed Betty H. Hottenstein I. Leon Kaplan n The creation of the Berks Quarantine Open Mic group on SECRETARY Robert R. Kreitz, Esq. social media, connecting thousands of people to watch Paul G. Oxholm Eric Moyer amateur and professional musicians performing their Leon S. Myers favorite songs. ASSISTANT SECRETARY Donald Reber David L. Kline Dr. Thomas B. Souders Just like our oldest and best friends, music has been with us, and C. Thomas Work, Esq. will be waiting for us, however we need it most. Your ongoing PRESIDENT Peter N. Zacharias support of Reading Musical Foundation ensures music today, and Keri M. Shultz music tomorrow. 2 n ANNUAL REPORT 2020 How Your Donation Made a Difference Last Year 2019- Grants to Support 2020 $323,598 Music Education & Appreciation JUNE Additional Grants to Support 2020 $99,438 Music Organizations During COVID-19 2019-2020 SCHOLARSHIPS Need-Sensitive $94,564 253 Scholarships Audition-Based $62,284 10 College Tuition Scholarships Audition-Based Mission $46,700 145 Merit Scholarships RMF’s mission is to advance and advocate for music $41,959 $11,295 education and appreciation. Compensation to Music Educators & Musicians Additional Compensation for RMF’s Outreach & After-School Programs to RMF Music Educators & Musicians during COVID-19 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 n 3 2019-2020 Scholarship Program $203,548 Awarded 408 Awards for Private Lessons, Instrument Upgrades, Merit Awards, and College Tuition Scholarships RMF’s scholarship program allows student musicians across Berks County to receive need-sensitive awards to begin or continue their music studies, as well as provide audition-based merit awards for students to be recognized for their musicianship and commitment to their music studies. Berks Shines 2019 – Musicians from RMF’s Scholarship and Outreach programs before their performance at Scholarships are made available Berks Shines in 2019 through more than 60 endowed funds, established to honor or remember the musical legacy of loved ones. 4 n ANNUAL REPORT 2020 New Funds Created in 2019-2020 ROBERT COOPER & NICHOLAS GERACIMOS WILSON INSTRUMENTALIST KERN FAMILY MUSIC THEATER SCHOLARSHIP FUND SCHOLARSHIP FUND WIND SCHOLARSHIP COLLEGE TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS NEED-SENSITIVE AWARDS FOR Wind instruments FOR GRADUATING SENIORS STUDYING WILSON SCHOOL DISTRICT MUSICIANS are common in the MUSIC THEATER Established by Gary Kern Family, and the This scholarship fund was established by Coller at the end of addition of the Kern an anonymous donor to celebrate and 2019, this scholarship Family Wind Fund of RMF ensures future honor the inspirational teaching careers fund will make at least generations of musicians will have access of Governor Mifflin teachers Robert 20 awards for student to private lessons with need-sensitive Cooper and Nicholas Geracimos. The musicians in grades 4-12 scholarships. Governor Mifflin School District, thanks in the Wilson School to these men, had the first licensed Sandy, a long-time trustee of RMF District. Awards are available for private production of a musical at a high school and a clarinet player with the Reading music lessons, instrument upgrades, in the state of Pennsylvania (Oklahoma, Philharmonic Orchestra, has been a and experiences like summer music 1959). To this day, Governor Mifflin’s loyal volunteer at RMF’s scholarship camp. Mr. Coller, who found his true Spring Swing continues, and the district auditions. She is also an advocate for calling for music later in life, designed has the longest unbroken chain of the Reading Philharmonic’s Young this scholarship fund in hopes that it will performances in Pennsylvania, and the Conductor program, which connects inspire lifelong musicianship, regardless second longest on the eastern seaboard. Kutztown University music majors to this if students choose a profession in the community orchestra to gain conducting music industry. experience. Their children, Edward and Jeffrey, are also wind players, with Edward playing trombone throughout high school, and Jeffrey playing the saxophone. Robert Cooper, Sr., Nicholas Geracimos, and Skip Norcott in a Governor Mifflin Musical Production ANNUAL REPORT 2020 n 5 RMF Outreach & Education Programs HOURS OF RMF AFTER-SCHOOL $160,000 $11,295 292 MUSIC PROGRAMS HOURS OF MUSIC THERAPY 120 SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS Total Investment Additional Compensation WITH ADDICTION DISORDER to RMF Music Educators & INSTRUMENTS DONATED Musicians during COVID-19 97 TO OPERATION REPLAY Young Forte members enjoying an evening at the Reading Symphony Orchestra Operation Replay Music Therapy Recycled Instruments Allow Almost 100 Many of us find music amplifies our Using a certified music therapist, RMF Students to Become Musicians! happiness during times of joy, and has expanded our mission by providing Operation Replay, RMF’s instrument comforts us during moments of sorrow. music therapy services at Pennsylvania recycling program, collected nearly 100 Beyond just our feelings, music therapy Adult & Teen Challenge in Berks County. instruments last year to share with young is a proven medical service that provides Thanks to a grant from the Community students who can’t afford to rent an various benefits, from infants to General Healthcare Fund of the Berks instrument. Operation Replay is made geriatrics, and all ages in between. RMF County Community Foundation, a music possible thanks to the generous support selected serving individuals suffering therapist is now part of the clinical team, of Zeswitz Music. from addiction disorder for our first providing three hours weekly in PAATC’s initiative, providing services that aren’t medical detoxification and short-term readily available in our community. rehabilitation programs. 6 n ANNUAL REPORT 2020 PROJECT PENSKE These programs ensure quality jazz education through workshops for area student musicians. STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARDS Every year RMF invests more than $10,000 to recognize outstanding middle school and high school musicians who represent RMF’s mission, as well as outstanding Other Outreach & Education initiatives accompanists, jazz musicians, and of RMF Include: musicians who are equally committed to MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS ASSEMBLIES STEM education with certificates and $100 honorariums. These awards are offered These lively concerts introduce elementary to every public and parochial school in school musicians to instrument families Berks County. with classical, pop, blues, and jazz music samplings. YOUNG FORTE AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAMS This leadership development program allows area high school sophomores and Thanks to generous donations and funders, juniors to explore career opportunities RMF is the music program at Olivet Boys & and identify music programming worthy Girls Club, offering a choral program; group of funding. lessons on guitar, keyboard, percussion, digital music; and operating a state-of-the- art recording studio. RMF also provides Photos to the Right: RMF’s Team of Outreach Teachers Top: Renato Sambria and Cliff Starkey similar programming at Southern Middle Bottom: Jeff Roeckle, Bryan Rojas, Josh Taylor (top row), School throughout the year. and Tama McConnell, Michael Clipman, Maria Damore (bottom row) Photo credit: Core+Co. ANNUAL REPORT 2020 n 7 Grants for Music Education & Appreciation Programs In addition to RMF’s Scholarship & In the spring of 2020, RMF recognized Outreach programs, we make grants to the role our financial support could area organizations for programs that play as area music organizations sought advance and advocate music education stability and answers during a time of and appreciation. turmoil. To maximize our impact during this critical time, RMF’s Board of Trustees For 2019-2020, RMF had awarded: unanimously approved: n $177,460 FOR 16 PROGRAMS n Organizations were issued their entire AND PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE appropriation for 2019-2020, regardless MUSIC EDUCATION of whether the program was cancelled n $109,438 FOR 5 PROGRAMS or postponed. Our musicians and AND PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE educators connected to RMF programs Above: Ringgold Band’s Banding Together Program. MUSIC APPRECIATION Below: Berks Sinfonietta launches Digital Concert Series were also paid in full for all services for 2020. n $24,400 FOR 12 PROGRAMS through June. AND PROJECTS THAT ADVOCATE n