Crescendo BSO
Supporting the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra
The Ulumbarra Foundation is proud to support the development of the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra through the Crescendo BSO project.
Ulumbarra Foundation donors are now able to tie their support to the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra’s priority programs and activities, simply by indicating their preferences in the form below.
Contributing in this way will allow the BSO to provide scholarships to young musicians, to acquire section leader services to inspire orchestra members and audiences, grow its music library and acquire equipment and instruments.
All donations to the Ulumbarra Foundation’s Crescendo BSO project are tax deductible (over $2).
All donations to the Ulumbarra Foundation’s Crescendo BSO project are tax deductible (over $2).
The Ulumbarra Foundation thanks you for your support of Crescendo BSO!
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Here is a full outline of the BSO's current projects requiring support:
Scholarships fund
Bendigo Symphony Orchestra currently has a scholarship fund. Scholarships are currently awarded on an annual basis to a young orchestra member in the string sections and wind sections. If funds are available, these scholarships could be extended to encourage and assist young musicians to join the orchestra. This fund is an important tool to build the orchestra and give young musicians an opportunity to gain experience in orchestral playing.
Leadership and professional development fund
In order to develop the skill base of the orchestra the BSO has embarked on a plan to audition for and pay an honorarium for leadership positions within the orchestra. With assistance from the City of Greater Bendigo the BSO has undertaken the first round of auditions and interviews and appointed a concert master, principal viola and principal cello. Initially the BSO will have leaders in the string section but plans to expand this to each of the wind sections and have developed position descriptions for these roles that include a focus on skill development within each section. The BSO is hopeful that by adding a level of professionalism it will be able to build resources and skills into the orchestra and attract new skilled players to join.
Music library fund
Sheet music is expensive to hire and at times difficult to source. A large well-curated library of locally available scores is a valuable community resource and is available for use by other orchestras and would be an excellent resource for a future youth orchestra. In 2008 the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra was fortunate to receive a substantial grant from the Abbott foundation to purchase new orchestral parts. This purchase has been enhanced by donations to the orchestra’s library by some of its members. Any new purchases have aimed to include the most up to date editions, including Bärenreiter and Breitkopf & Härtel urtext editions. The BSO is keen to make its library available to other community ensembles, and welcomes enquiries. Improved storage for this library is an urgent priority to improve the life of the music, accessibility to the music and safety for the librarian.
Equipment and instruments fund
The orchestra is keen to develop its range of available instruments particularly in the percussion section. Percussion instruments are expensive and are generally purchased by the orchestra rather than the individual player. Building a collection of such instruments would provide a potential resource for a future youth orchestra in the region as well as for the BSO. As the orchestra grows it is likely to need additional items to support orchestral performances such as music stands, risers, sconce lights etc. At times music and equipment need to be repaired or replaced due to wear and tear or accidents. Some instruments, such as tympani, require intermittent servicing. Some instruments such as harps, harpsichords or bassoons are expensive to purchase and would be considered an advantage for the orchestra to own, although they would be a stretch target. The orchestra continues to be blessed by the assistance of committed members who have made, repaired and managed much of our existing infrastructure and provide valuable transportation of equipment to and from concerts without charge.
Performance fund
The BSO's principal way of generating revenue is to plan and present concerts of exciting orchestral music. To be able to generate an income the BSO needs to hire a venue and pay any associated costs such as staff costs, heating, lighting etc. If it contracts well known Australian or overseas artists to come and perform in Bendigo, it has a good chance of attracting audiences from Melbourne and other regional towns in Victoria to Bendigo for the concerts. If the BSO has the financial backing to take the risk of hiring more established artists as soloists for at least some of its concerts, and at the same time hire a larger venue, it has the opportunity to increase its revenue stream considerably.
The BSO's principal way of generating revenue is to plan and present concerts of exciting orchestral music. To be able to generate an income the BSO needs to hire a venue and pay any associated costs such as staff costs, heating, lighting etc. If it contracts well known Australian or overseas artists to come and perform in Bendigo, it has a good chance of attracting audiences from Melbourne and other regional towns in Victoria to Bendigo for the concerts. If the BSO has the financial backing to take the risk of hiring more established artists as soloists for at least some of its concerts, and at the same time hire a larger venue, it has the opportunity to increase its revenue stream considerably.
Building community awareness/ participation fund
There is a need to increase the awareness in the region of the quality, and impact of the orchestra and attract larger audiences. This can be done through a variety of means including improved marketing, community engagement events. This fund will increase audiences and extend the reach of the orchestra into new audiences.
