Membership
Become A Member of the Vermont Philharmonic

I Membership Form I News I Board Committees I Meetings Schedule I

I have always been attracted to unique opportunities. These are the times when situations and events blend together in that unfathomable fashion which makes possible what was previously unachievable. Such an opportunity now exists in Central Vermont. There has been a coming together of an increasing local population of musical talent with a professional musician of great musicality and charisma to inspire and direct them. I refer to the Vemont Philharmonic orchestra and their music director, Lou Kosma. Anyone with a musical ear who has attended its concerts in recent times, is aware of the ever improving sound of this community orchestra. It is now positioned to become one of the great community orchestras in the land. And this is the opportunity of which I speak. The Vermont Philharmonic is a community orchestra operating under the authority of, and responsible to, those members of the Central Vermont community who wish to join in this challenging endeavour. We encourage you to become a part of this unique opportunity. Wavell Cowan Chair of the Vermont Philharmonic Board of Directors

MEMBER BENEFITS Receive discounts on concert tickets Receive invitations to regular post concert dinners offering social connections and musical moments with Lou Kosma and members of the orchestra. Enjoy an opportunity to help fashion the future of a vibrant enterprise by joining regular planning sessions advertised on the VP web site. ANNUAL DUES Regular member $35 $1 discount on all tickets purchased for Vermont Philharmonic concerts Patron member $100 $2 discount on all tickets purchased for Vermont Philharmonic concerts, PLUS the opportunity to obtain reserved seating for tickets purchased prior to the concert evening Donations: The Jon Borowitz memorial student scholarship fund finances the musical scholarships awarded to the winners of the annual Vermont Philharmonic student musical competition. Jon Borowicz, founder of the Vermont Philharmonic and long time music director, died in Florida in October 2004. PAYMENTS Please send check for annual dues and/or Jon Borowicz Fund donations together with the above information to: The Vemont Philharmonic P.O. Box 425 Montpelier, VT 05601  Download the Membership Form (PDF) MEMBERS CORNER: News February 2007 The Vermont Philharmonic and its music director Lou Kosma are focused on a specific goal. It is to continuously improve the musical voice of the Vermont Philharmonic orchestra. We thereby seek to become an ever more prestigious community orchestra as perceived not only by those who are playing members of the orchestra, but also by the Central Vermont community at large. Behind this task lie interesting challenges. Thus a Board committee dealing with musical programming meets regularly for discussions with Lou Kosma about creating musical balance. This means selecting music which maintains the proper level of challenge for the musical growth of the orchestra. It also means selecting music which will delight audiences. Creating better musical sound and more audience-attractive musical programs creates another challenge. How to communicate and bring in the audiences which these new performances truly deserve. A Board committee of business people are breaking new ground in the strategy and tactics of market development for this kind of a product. They appreciate the loyalty of a core audience even as they experiment with new messages to attract the interest of those less familiar with the unique experience that a live orchestra, under the baton of a charismatic conductor, offers. Which leads to a final challenge. A Board finance committee tackles the question of just how a community orchestra must be positioned in order to develop the revenue base needed to sustain itself. The answer is related to the fact that as we advance along the path described above, we are necessarily creating a potentially ever more valuable community asset. Economic development not only requires a welcoming climate for business investment, but also an attractive cultural environment. I know. I moved a business from Montreal to Central Vermont some 25 years ago. The reason I selected Central Vermont was because it offered a rural environment with a difference. That difference was the area’s cultural life. City friends are always totally amazed at the range of cultural events they experience as my guests when visiting me. Central Vermont needs economic development to offset its growing “unaffordability”. Supporting a really good community orchestra is a way that community members and local businesses can assist this effort. As the Vermont Philharmonic presents ever more enjoyable musical programs you should make a point of becoming a “regular”. And why not invite a friend along? Further you can become a member of the Vermont Philharmonic and participate in increasingly valuable opportunities for enjoyment and involvement. If you are a small business owner, plan your annual PR budget to include joining our small business sponsorship program, and see your business named in this program for all of our concert performances, and also listed on our web site. One last item. Now that we have fully restructured and reorganized operations we are looking to expand Board participation. So if you have an interest in joining a dynamic, well organized group focused on a creative mission, please contact me. wcowan@wcvt.com. Vermont Philharmonic Board Committees The activities of the Vermont Philharmonic are developed by working committees chaired by Board members but welcoming participation by any community members (contact Board committee Chairs via e-mail). All meetings are held at the Pulmac Barn Building in Moretown on Route 100B: Interstate Exit 9, follow signs to Rt. 100B, proceed ca. 1/4 mile on Rt. 100B finding on left a large parking area immediately after a white house and barn, second property on left after large retaining wall. The following permanent Board committees have been established. Board Music Committee: Charged with developing musical program ideas and, with the guidance and recommendations of Music Director Lou Kosma, proposing specific annual programs. Meetings from September through December 2005: to develop and finalize a proposal for the musical content and schedule of the 2006-2007 concert season. Meetings from January through August 2006: to brainstorm ideas for future themes and concert programs to provide innovative and creative musical events, incorporating and balancing input from the music director, playing musicians, and the audience development constituency. Board Committee Chair: David Dudey (ddudey@uvm.edu) Board Schools/Education Committee: Charged with development of activities to enrich music programs in the public schools and inspire young Vermont musicians to pursue their musical talents. Meetings from September 2005 through August 2006: to oversee implementation of programs and activities approved for the 2005-2006 concert season, to brainstorm ideas for the future and, with the guidance and recommendations of Music Director Lou Kosma, to finalize proposed activities for implementation during the 2006-2007 concert season. Board Committee Chair: VACANT Board Operations/Membership Committee Charged with oversight and critique of business operations and development and delivery of membership programs. Meetings from September 2005 through August 2006: To review and consider modifications of concert advertising strategies, and of membership acquisition performance and strategies. Meetings from September 2005 through August 2006: To assess performance data in respect to audience and membership development and discuss possible new approaches. Board Committee Chair: Alan Liptak (aliptak@tds.net) Board Finance Committee Charged with developing and reviewing the budgeting process, developing fund raising strategies and overseeing the implementation of all fund raising activities. Meetings from January 2006 through August 2006: To oversee budget results against forecasts for the 2005-2006 concert season, establish fund raising strategies and goals for the 2006-2007 concert season and oversee implementation of these latter strategies. Board Committee Chair: Wavell Cowan (wcowan@wcvt.com) Board Committee Meetings Schedule: All meetings are held at the Pulmac Barn Building in Moretown on Route100B: Interstate Exit 9, follow signs to Rt.100B. Proceed ca. 1/4 mile on Rt.100B, finding on left a large parking area immediately aftera whitehouse and barn, second property on left after large retaining wall. Operations/membership Board committee: All meetings at 7 PM at the Pulmac Barn Monday October 30, 2006 Monday December 18, 2006 Monday February 26, 2007 Monday June 18 2007