As members of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s Board of Directors, we are compelled to reach out to you for our annual giving campaign with a profound sense of purpose—to ensure our orchestra’s future. From the traditional march performed at a graduation ceremony, to the choir at a beloved holiday concert, to the award-winning soundtrack of your favorite family film, all of us have experienced the transformative moments provided by great music. It is this incredible power of music that inspires us to reflect on our shared human experience and heritage today.
We take pride in our coal-mining past, our neighborhoods of immigrants, and our industrial might. We envision a vibrant future fueled by powerful new economic engines, and we strive together to boost our financial viability through intelligence, passion, and drive. That regional pulse and that humming economic energy will be vital to the support of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, which coincidentally, makes our region both competitive and desirable for growth opportunities and successful business ventures.
Sustainability is a buzz word in our era of constant change, but to foster sustainability, we must first answer the call to stewardship—the call to be a caretaker for our great institutions. It is with hopeful hearts that we encourage our loyal patrons as well as new music devotees to attend concerts and to consider a donation to our Annual Campaign. Your contribution is absolutely vital to the Philharmonic’s preservation as a cultural icon in our community.
As you know, our Board voted to suspend major operations for the remainder of the 2017-8 season as we revamp the Philharmonic for today’s market and audience, and to ensure decades more of excellent live music. It is with great pride that we recognize our Philharmonic has presented concerts on par with major urban centers for almost 50 years. And yet, we also recognize that major symphonies universally lack the financial support necessary to compete and thrive. Thus, while it was a difficult decision to suspend operations, it was necessary to take a proactive and positive direction for our future. We are honestly heartened by it—this decision demonstrates our commitment to our youth and education programs, to our musicians, to our neighbors, friends and volunteers, and to our patrons. This decision, in essence, represents a commitment to our community.
On October 7, we presented our season’s one and only PNC Pops concert, a family-friendly tribute to the award-winning composer John Williams. Filled with memorable music from Star Wars and Harry Potter, the performance uplifted and inspired multiple generations of concert-goers. At the sold-out performance, we bid a fond farewell to Maestro Lawrence Loh, our conductor for the past 12 seasons. He closed the concert with the rousing theme from Indiana Jones, amid thunderous applause in the packed house. The palpable energy in the hall convinced us that we will not go silent. As we spend the upcoming year working diligently to restructure and raise funds, we will continue with our educational programs, fundraising events, and a chamber music series with a total of seven concerts in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.
Gifts of all sizes are meaningful and are critical to the Philharmonic’s future. As you consider the size of your gift, know that we truly believe the concert tickets you purchased for your date night, the yoga you practiced on a parking garage to the accompaniment of a professional cellist, your nostalgic memories of holiday concerts from childhood, your attendance at a pre-concert discussion to better teach your classroom, and your financial contribution today—it is in ALL of these ways that you show your support and pride for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. And as fellow supporters and believers in our community, the beauty of our region, and the soundtracks to our human experience, we cannot thank you enough for your support.
Warm regards,
Board of Trustees of The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic
