With its season canceled, Downey Symphony awarded $42K COVID relief grant
Photo courtesy DowneyArts.org
DOWNEY — Thanks to the vision of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Downey Symphonic Society will receive the biggest grant in its 60-year history.
The purpose of the county’s award is to provide economic relief to arts nonprofits suffering from COVID-19-related closures, and the Society was given $42,300, “to cover losses in income.”
The Downey organization was cited “for your vital work sustaining arts and culture in our communities.”
“Good news,” said Ryan Keene, president of the Society. “Our annual budget runs about $225,000,” said Ryan, “and we haven’t been able to do any in-person fundraising. We have many loyal patrons just waiting for us to start our new season.”
“This is a part of the $10 million grant,” said treasurer Bill Hare, “that the federal government gave to the county for arts relief, and only to arts organizations that currently receive a Los Angeles County Organizational Grant Program grant, which we have. There were about 550 that qualified, and this grant was given only to 350.”
“Congratulations,” said Kristin Sakoda and Angela Gaspar-Milanovic of the Department of Arts and Culture, “on your grant from the LA County COVID-19 Arts Relief Fund. This program would not be possible without the leadership of the elected LA County Board of Supervisors, who allocated a portion of federal COVID-19 funds for arts and culture.
In addition to our own Janice Hahn, Supervisor for the Fourth District, that Board includes Hilda Solis, Mark Ridley- Thomas, Sheila Kuehl, and Kathryn Barger.
“This is great news,” said Cindy Kovach, board member. “Since we haven’t been able to gather together, we can’t have parties that reach out to the community, like our 60th anniversary celebration.”
“Or the Guild’s fun-raisers, like our summer BBQ’s,” said Joyce Sherwin, the board’s liaison to the guild. “This will help us make up for the loss of our fund-raising events like the Board’s fall Garden Party, where guests enjoy gourmet desserts and bid for fabulous silent auction prizes.”
The all-volunteer board of the Symphonic Society presents all the activities of the Downey Symphony Orchestra, including their Music in the Schools Program, originally written exclusively for us by Dr. Thomas Osborn. Now interrupted in what would have been its 20th year, the program brings players and instruments right into the classrooms of every K-5 school.
Music in the Schools also presents the kid’s favorite, the full orchestral concerts in the Downey Theatre. With the cooperation of the Downey Unified School District and the City, via the Downey Theatre, every year a formal morning concert is performed for every third grader, and a separate program, sponsored by Downey Kiwanis Foundation, for all the fifth graders.
“Buses are busy all morning,” said Music Director Sharon Lavery, “bringing youngsters and it takes three consecutive performances each time, to seat them all.”
“We musicians miss playing in Downey,” said Sharon. “But until the county says ok, we’ll just have to wait and be responsible. We care about the health and safety of our patrons, as well as our own.”
Sharon now conducts informal interviews on Facebook, with a different musician and instrument featured each time. It’s curated by Board member Anthony Crespo. Watch for it.
The Downey Symphony Orchestra is considered one of the finest metropolitan ensembles in the Los Angeles basin. The orchestra is made up of the best professional musicians the Board can engage to come to play in Downey, and although none reside in Downey, most of the paid performers are long time regulars in the orchestra.
Three Saturday evening subscription concerts in the Downey Theatre, plus one free summer twilight concert in Furman Park for the entire community, round out the Symphonic Society’s contributions to Downey. Memberships in the society and private donations, plus foundation and government grants, are the prime means of support.
Superlatives and exclamations points abounded. “WONDERFUL NEWS!!,” said Sharon. “Many, many thanks to both Carol Kearns and Bill Hare for their hard and diligent work on getting this grant submitted!”
“Excellent!!!” said Mark Keller, board member and stage manager at the theatre when the Symphony is in residence. “Job well done!"