Annual Fund

How Important Is My Gift?

Your generous gift promises that music will continue to thrive and grow in our community enhancing the quality of life for all of us.
With your help, we will continue to achieve great things at the Lima Symphony Orchestra.

The Annual Fund exists to bridge the gap between earned income and expenses. Orchestras are not supported by ticket sales alone. Ticket sales are only 37 percent of the income that it takes to bring a professional orchestra to our community. Our expenses continue to rise higher as our professional orchestra expands programming. The artistic and production expenses are 72 percent of our operating costs.

Education and Outreach of your Lima Symphony Orchestra

* Young People’s Concert: Last year, forty schools bussed 3,200 middle school children from schools in northwestern Ohio to our Lima Symphony Orchestra’s Young People’s Concert.
* KidStuff: Four times a year, members from different sections of the orchestra teach your children about music. This program is designed with younger children in mind. Children meet professional symphony members, learn basic music terminology and do hands on music-themed activities.
* In-school Programs: Guest artists not only perform with the Orchestra, they go into the schools to teach children. For many children of the schools we visit, this is the only opportunity they have to experience culture through music.
* Baby’s First Symphony: Baby’s 1st Symphony is a 30 minute multi-media concert designed to give children, from birth to age six, a gentle introduction to classical music.
* Musicians in the Making: Young musicians have the opportunity to perform on the mezzanine before a live audience prior to each concert.
* Silver Strings: Orchestra members perform in assisted living facilities and for senior citizen organizations.

Why Does a Community Support Its Orchestra?
Communities with orchestras attract active civic-minded participants, and the presence of an orchestra can be an indicator of a community’s economic development.

What is the Economic Impact of the Lima Symphony Orchestra
During the 2010-2011 season, our Lima Symphony Orchestra will provide 700 jobs for musicians who each play approximately 47 rehearsals and performances to produce our concerts for a total payroll of nearly $365,000.

The economic impact exceeds several times that amount as orchestras create jobs, engage in commerce with local businesses and spur local expenditures or related goods and services (hotel, restaurants, parking activities, and more).

Your Lima Symphony Orchestra is a Professional Orchestra!
Our musicians represent the best of the best in a tri-state area. All of our musicians are auditioned and upon acceptance into the Lima Symphony Orchestra, they are paid musicians. Musicians travel from as far away as Michigan, Indiana and Cincinnati to perform under the direction of Maestro Crafton Beck. Many of our Musicians perform in a number of symphonies, including the Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Ft. Wayne and the Cincinnati Symphonies.

How Will My Donation Be Acknowledged?
Your name will be included in the 2010-2011 Lima Symphony Orchestra Program that will be given to all participants attending every concert. You may choose from the following donation levels:

Concert Underwriter ($10,000+)
Gold Baton ($5,000+)
Conductor’s Circle ($1,000+)
Principal Chair Sponsor ($500+)
Section Chair Sponsor ($350+)
VIP Club (Individuals ($150+)
Donors (Companies ($150+)
Supporters (Individual ($100+)
Contributors (Under $100)
Space Angels ($29 per month for 12 months)

You can pay by check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover. If you prefer, we will send an invoice.

Thank you very much for your support!