November 2021

I hope this letter finds you well, with the strains of summer’s music lingering and a renewed sense of hope and good health as we head into Fall.

Recently, Anthony Tommasini, chief classical music critic at The New York Times, wrote about the direction he thought musical institutions should take in the present moment:

Yet given the crises we have endured and the urgent challenges that remain, I hope my wish wins out that institutions try harder to connect and engage … [A]n ensemble puts more on the line and fosters classical music as a living art form when it presents a new piece, champions a neglected older work or takes a risk with unconventional programming.

Do these ideals sound familiar to you? Thanks to your steadfast support over 28 seasons, Salt Bay Chamberfest has long been recognized for the approach that Tommasini calls for. Just this year, alongside great masterworks of Bach, Beethoven, and others, we presented the works of 11 living composers, including seven Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) composers. We were delighted that our world premiere of the piece we commissioned by Afro-Latinx composer Darian Donovan Thomas received a standing ovation.

At Salt Bay Chamberfest, however, our performances of new music and our creative programming are not considered risks. They are embraced by our audiences and understood as compelling visions of what the classical music art form can be. Finding intriguing ways to connect to and present music of all eras has been our mission from day one. And it’s made possible only through your generous support.

Thank you for enabling Salt Bay Chamberfest to reach its artistic goals!

In a year when the performing arts were struggling, our organization successfully pivoted. We presented high-level artistry while increasing arts access in our community in difficult times, through free community concerts and music video engagement. These are just a few among many reasons why I am committed as a board member — serving eight years as president — to ensure that Salt Bay Chamberfest continues well into the future.

Thanks to your past support, Salt Bay Chamberfest has:  

  • Presented live performances in 2021, exceeding our expected ticket sales

  • Presented free outdoor River Muse concerts, providing arts access to the community

  • Filmed four segments of the River Muse project for year-round musical enjoyment

  • Presented the Harmony on Land and Sea project, collaborating with other Maine non-profit organizations to highlight the interplay between music and our environment through videos and artist talks

  • Awarded financial support through our Emergency Musicians Relief Fund to musicians whose performances we were forced to cancel in 2020 because of COVID

  • Fulfilled our pledge to significantly reduce our endowment drawdown in 2020 and 2021

Ticket sales account for only 20% of our income, so we rely on the generosity of individuals like you. If you are able, please join our Sostenuto circle by contributing $1,000 or more and attend a special season kick-off event. Or, sponsor a musician, concert, season, or newly commissioned work by contributing $2,250 or more and have your name listed in the program as an individual sponsor. And please consider supporting the organization’s long-term success by contributing to our endowment or joining our Encore Society and making a bequest.

We are so grateful for each and every contribution to Salt Bay Chamberfest, and I hope you will join me in helping to secure the future of this organization by giving generously once again.

Sincerely,

Paul O. Weislogel

President of the Board