MEETING NOTES

David Matthews introduced the Executive Director of the South Bend Symphony, SBSO, Agnieszka Rakhmatullaev as the Club’s program speaker.  Agnieszka brought the Club up to date on the structure, programs music, and the new Director search for our regional renowned Symphony.  She is happy that SBSO is supported by our major area universities and contributes over one million dollars to our local economy.  There is also an Endowment Fund to help offset many of the expenses along with a generous community support.  It is very unusual for a regional symphony to have two performing venues; South Bend’s Morris Performing Arts Center for the Symphony and Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center for the Chamber Series.  The SBSO has a core of 71 professional musicians that is augmented by other professionals to perform in over 40 concerts a year ranging from or related to Educational Concerts for elementary students. IUSB and other local community and school choirs are often a strong addition to the symphony programs.  In addition members of the SBSO put on free concerts for PreK-12 students and a Donald Dake Academy Annual week long Chamber Music camp for high school students.  The members of the SBSO draw from local, regional, and national musicians.  The search for the new Music Director has attracted not only national but an international group of candidates.  Five candidates have been chosen from the 170 applicants by the Search Committee to compete for the Concert Director’s position. Agnieszka encourages everyone to be a part of the SBSO by being involved at the Board level, becoming a donor, subscriber, or sponsor and/or by attending a performance.  She also reminded us that the concerts are rebroadcast again this year on WAUS and WNDU.