In other news, our membership has doubled, and our new Members' Gatherings are garnering
strong support, with attendance of close to 100 for each of our events in January and May (see pictures
to the left under "Society News"). The enthusiasm has led to the founding of our new Guitar Society
Orchestra--14 members strong!-- now available to play for charitable causes in the community.
Last December we were one of just two Missouri organizations to receive $10,000 of support from
the Challenge America program of the National Endowment for the Arts for our morning performances
benefiting St. Louis city public school students and their teachers. And just recently--due to the support
of several private donors, a grant from the Old Newsboy's Fund, and the cooperation of Music Folk--we
will soon have twenty classical guitars to donate to the city public schools for their music programs!
This website is now getting three times the number of visitors than it did a year ago, and we are
gradually expanding our educational materials, community outreach and on-line marketing. Eighty percent
of our single ticket sales are now online. And our concerts at the Ethical Society are now approaching
consistent sell-outs.
You'll notice that among this seasons's offerings is the phenomenal Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
(LAGQ), presented in cosponsorship with the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences at Washington
University, and presented in the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, 560 Trinity at Delmar in the University
City loop (formerly CASA and the Webster Community Music School). We are giving you a special
incentive to subscribe to our Great Artist Series by requiring that
orders for tickets to the LAGQ
directly from us prior to October 10 must be accompanied by a subscription.* Order by September
1 to receive the best seats available in your section! We also encouraging you to become a member this
year by sponsoring a special members-only reception for the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet in the Ballroom
Theater immediately after the performance. Please join us for another great season!
Sincerely,
William Ash
President
* On September 1 these tickets will also become available directly through the Edison Theater Box
Office (314 935-6543, with hours 10:am - 4:00 pm Mon-Fri, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Sat) and
through Metrotix: (314 534-1111, with hours 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Mon-Sun, or on-line at
http://www.metrotix.com/ anytime (purchases through Metrotix subject to a convenience charge).
(Beginning September 1, we will have a direct link to Metrotix from our site.)
