A standing ovation… what an experience!
Posted on December 18, 2019
Last month we (Anne Ridlington, Principal Cello and Eric Alterman, Assistant Principal Cello) had the opportunity to be featured as soloists on Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Cellos, a performance that will be a lifelong memory for each of us. We were excited when Music Director & Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong asked us to step out of our usual seats in the cello section to play this piece, and it’s an honor to be featured from within our orchestra of remarkable musicians.
Music gives us a special perspective on life; it’s a refuge, a place of focus, peacefulness, reflection, and concentration. We believe it’s important for the community to see us as individuals with unique talents that come together collectively to do more than we can on our own. As musicians, we are constantly seeking to improve, to come away from rehearsals and concerts feeling like we are better than we were before. We want to learn something new, hear something new, feel something new. And we hope that these same feelings extend to the audience – to you.
To prepare for our November 14 performance, we rehearsed at each other’s houses, talked about musical ideas, and really heard one another. We discovered that we have pretty different musical styles and approaches, but we were able to work with that and, by the performance, our playing complemented each other in a way that neither of us expected and the piece really sparkled. As we took our final bow we were overcome with joy by the support we felt from the audience, from the community we’re a part of, and felt grateful knowing that it’s all happening because of supporters just like you.
We are so honored to be able to pursue our careers as musicians and to be a part of the Eugene Symphony, an organization that has been inspiring, educating, and serving this community for 54 years. The arts are a defining aspect of our community and such a big part of why people choose to live here. Supporting the Eugene Symphony is supporting the musicians who contribute to the community we all love.
As 2019 draws to a close, we ask that you give generously to ensure that music can continue to inspire our community, lift up artists, and bring us together through live performances.
Sincerely,
Anne Ridlington, Principal Cello and Eric Alterman, Assistant Principal Cello
The Cultural Trust was created by the state legislature in 2002 to fund culture in the state into perpetuity. Currently, more than 1,400 nonprofits, including the Eugene Symphony, are eligible to receive funds from the Cultural Trust.
Those funds are provided by Oregonians like you who receive a cultural tax credit for their donation to the Cultural Trust. Spreading the word about how easy it is to take advantage of the tax credit is how we grow funding for statewide culture. Here’s how it works:
- Total your donations to qualifying cultural nonprofits to which you donated all year. A full list of qualifying nonprofits can be found here: http://culturaltrust.org/get-involved/nonprofits/
- Give the same amount to the Cultural Trust by Dec. 31 by mail or online
- Claim the amount donated to the Cultural Trust as a tax credit when you file your taxes.*
Your Cultural Trust contribution comes back to you in the form of a decreased tax bill or potentially an increased refund. You just doubled the impact of your contribution at no additional cost to you!
As you continue to support Eugene Symphony with your generous contributions, we hope you’ll also match your donation with a gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust to strengthen funding for all of the cultural organizations that protect our great state’s famous quality of life.
Remember to make your donation by December 31. Learn more or donate at CulturalTrust.org or (503) 986-0088 or consult your tax preparer.
*Up to $500 for an individual, $1,000 for couples filing jointly or $2,500 for Class-C corporations
