Utah Symphony One of Nineteen U.S. Orchestras to Receive League of American Orchestras’ American Orchestras’ Futures Fund Grant

New York, NY (July 11, 2019) – Utah Symphony is just one of nineteen U.S. orchestras to receive a grant from the League of American Orchestras to support innovation and organizational learning. The two-year American Orchestras’ Future Fund grants, in the amount of $80,000–$150,000 each, are made possible by the generous support of the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation.

“This forward-looking work—on stage, in the community, and within the organizations themselves—is essential for the evolution of the art form and the institutions that perform it,” said Jesse Rosen, the League’s President and CEO. “The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation has been a catalyst for innovation, and we are grateful for their vision and support.”

“The initiatives represented by the first two grant cycles far exceeded our expectations,” said Lisa Delan, Director of the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation. “The level of press attention many of these programs received reflects the timeliness of these efforts and makes clear there is much to gain by venturing outside of our comfort zones and carving new pathways through which to connect with our audiences and our communities. We look forward in anticipation to what this next round brings.”

This year’s Futures Fund grants demonstrate the innovative measures orchestras are taking to grow their audiences and increase their relevance. Programs receiving support include engagement of veterans with PTSD; research on the effects of music education on the emotional, social, and neural development of children; new uses of digital marketing; and partnerships with universities, public and private school systems, and other nonprofits to create new musical experiences.

This is the third round of the League’s $4.5 million American Orchestras’ Futures Fund program; previous grants were announced in 2017 and 2018. For this latest round, U.S.-based orchestras that are members of the League of American Orchestras were eligible to apply. An independent peer review panel selected the orchestras based on criteria including the organization’s capacity to respond and adapt to opportunities and changed circumstances, and the potential for artistic, internal, community, public value, and field-wide impact.

About the Utah Symphony
Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony performs more than 175 concerts each season and offers all Utahns access to world-class live performances of the world’s greatest music in the state’s top venues. In addition to numerous regional and domestic tours, including those listed above, the Utah Symphony has embarked on seven international tours—from Europe to Central and South America. The Utah Symphony has released more than 100 recordings. In addition to the orchestra’s recordings with Mr. Fischer, its discography includes acclaimed recordings with former Music Director Maurice Abravanel, including not only the complete Mahler symphonies, but also premiere recordings of works by Honegger, Milhaud, Rorem, Satie, Schuman, and Varèse.

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the orchestra’s parent organization, reaches 450,000 residents in Utah and the Intermountain region, with educational outreach programs serving more than 155,000 students annually. In addition to performances in its home in Salt Lake City, Abravanel Hall, and concerts throughout the state of Utah, the Utah Symphony participates in Utah Opera’s four annual productions at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre and presents the seven-week Deer Valley® Music Festival each summer in Park City, Utah.

About the League of American Orchestras
The League of American Orchestras leads, supports, and champions America’s orchestras and the vitality of the music they perform. Its diverse membership of more than 2,000 organizations and individuals across North America runs the gamut from world-renowned orchestras to community groups, from summer festivals to student and youth ensembles, from conservatories to libraries, from businesses serving orchestras to individuals who love symphonic music. The only national organization dedicated solely to the orchestral experience, the League is a nexus of knowledge and innovation, advocacy, and leadership advancement. Its conferences and events, award-winning Symphony magazine, website, and other publications inform people around the world about orchestral activity and developments. Founded in 1942 and chartered by Congress in 1962, the League links a national network of thousands of instrumentalists, conductors, managers and administrators, board members, volunteers, and business partners. Visit americanorchestras.org.