NOTEWORTHY - February 2006

Since 1993, we have distributed thirteen issues of Noteworthy, on average about once per year. In the past, we've included articles about Bach, our musicians, and our concerts, as well as announcements and reviews of our acclaimed series of compact disc recordings. With the start of a new year, we are shifting the focus just slightly to include important information from our staff regarding something we know is very important to you: the health of our organization.

In this edition, we introduce—to those of you who have not yet met her in person—our first Development Manager, Barbara Cohn. And below, Andrew Morgan, our Executive Director, gives a report about our last season's accomplishments and the current season's highlights.

We hope that you will be pleased by our growth and progress. As we dig into our seventeenth year, all of us are excited by the challenges of the current season and those that will follow. It is my personal hope that you will share your appreciation for our work with others by bringing them along with you to our concerts. We have, at times, an almost limitless resource: potential ticket sales. How wonderful it would be for all of us to see completely packed venues. And better still to be compelled to move to larger ones.

So, without further ado, I turn the pen over to my administrative colleagues. We are unendingly grateful for your continued support, and wish you a fantastic year.

— Jeffrey Thomas

Executive Director's Report...

For me, the arrival of the New Year brings thoughts of past accomplishments and exciting plans for the future. 2005 was an exciting year of growth for the American Bach Soloists, and 2006 is shaping up to be another banner year.

Perhaps the most exciting event this past year was the start of what we hope will be a long relationship with Delos International, starting off with re-releasing two discs of instrumental music: Bach Harpsichord Concertos and Corelli Six Concerti Grossi, Opus 6. Then, in November 2005, our much-anticipated disc of Handel's Messiah—recorded live during performances at Jackson Hall in the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis—hit the stores. Sales have been amazing, and the critics have loved it too! Future releases are already in the works, including a disc of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and the re-release of selections from ABS' popular Cantatas series.

In addition to recordings, 2005 saw some of the ensemble's largest expansions, artistically and geographically. In January, we introduced our first-ever subscription series in Davis, nearly selling out all three performances at the Davis Community Church. We're continuing that expansion in 2006 by bringing our entire season to the wonderful folks in Davis, culminating in a performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Mondavi Center.

The Chorus of the American Bach Soloists inaugurated the ABS Choral Series last season with two diverse programs spanning five centuries of music, led by Music Director Jeffrey Thomas. After years of shining in performances of Baroque masterworks, it was exciting for these dedicated singers (and I'm proud to count myself among their ranks) to amaze audiences with music by such diverse composers as Bach, Brahms, Britten, Pärt, and Poulenc. The Choral Series continues in 2006 with The Great English Choral Tradition (February 24-27), a tribute to the rich legacy of choral music from England.

Maestro Thomas' ambitious five-year Bach Cycle proceeded in 2005 with three programs dedicated to the Baroque master, including a selection of Bach's early cantatas, intricate double concertos, and the jubilant Magnificat and Easter Oratorio. And 2006 brings even more of this amazing music, with programs reveling in the mature Bach, including cantatas written during his time in Leipzig, the extravagant Orchestral Suites in D, and his monumental St. Matthew Passion (in a performance featuring nine soloists, in addition to the ABS Chorus and Orchestra and the Pacific Boychoir).

The annual SummerFest series in Belvedere has been a source of pride for American Bach Soloists since its inception in 1993. This amazing festival of chamber music, informal lectures, and alfresco meals, delights hundreds of fans each year, introducing many newcomers to historically informed performances. Starting in July 2006, this wonderful series will expand to include San Francisco and Davis. Watch your mail (and our concert program booklets) for more details!

Sadly, 2005 was also a year of tremendous personal loss for ABS with the passing of two unique and tireless supporters: Bay Area early music icon Laurette Goldberg, and ABS' cherished Board President Henry I. Goldberg. We are a better organization for having known these fine individuals, and can think of no better way to honor them than by recognizing their commitment to education. Starting this year, ABS' young artist competition (June 7 and 9, as part of the Biennial Berkeley Festival & Exhibition) will be named The American Bach Soloists & Henry I. Goldberg International Young Artists Competition, with the Laurette Goldberg First Prize.

Our audiences have grown with our artistic expansion. Last season saw some of the organization's largest audiences, and are current season's ticket sales are already well ahead of last year at this time. Donations are up, and we've greatly benefited by two recent legacy gifts as well as two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. But with all this exciting growth, one thing remains constant: our commitment to providing you with the finest in historically informed performances.

Thank you for making all of this possible. I look forward to seeing you at the concerts!

— Andrew Morgan
send email

Introducing Barbara Cohn...

Barbara Cohn joined the American Bach Soloists in September 2004 as the ensemble's first Development Manager. She brings to ABS many years of development experience with non-profit performing arts organizations, as well as talents in related fields of contract and project management. Most recently the Development Director at the New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco, she had previously served as Capital Campaign Manager at the Community School of Music and Art in Mountain View, and as Individual Gifts Manager for the San Jose Symphony. As an added bonus to ABS, Barbara (a musician, herself) brings a particularly strong commitment to the health and happiness of musical performing arts organizations.

I am thrilled to be the first Development Manager for ABS, an organization that boasts the finest musicians, the best music, and the most informed, appreciative and loyal supporters. I have enjoyed meeting many of you during the past year and hope to meet many more of you in the coming year.

Did you know that revenue from ticket sales covers only 34% of ABS expenses? It is my job to encourage every audience member to become a donor and every donor to increase his or her gift whenever possible. It is also my job to make certain that you know how valuable you, your attendance at concerts and your financial support are to ABS, so please don't hesitate to contact me (415-621-7900 or send email) if there is anything that I can do to enhance your relationship with ABS and/or your enjoyment of our performances - or just to introduce yourself.

I look forward to meeting all of you at an ABS performance in the coming season,

— Barbara Cohn

Development Highlights of the 2004/05 Season

• Individual Gifts: ABS is very grateful for the support offered by its donors during our 2004/05 Season. Your generosity has been a great part of the success story that has enabled ABS to increase its total contributed income by a very significant percentage over last season.
• Foundation and Government Grants: Other major contributors to this success have been two National Endowment for the Arts awards for the 2005/06 Season and a 3-year grant from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
• October 2005 Gala Auction: Our 2005 Gala Auction netted almost $30,000, of which $12,000 was raised specifically in support of the 2006 American Bach Soloists & Henry I. Goldberg International Young Artists Competition to be held in June 2006 in conjunction with the 9th Biennial Berkeley Festival & Exhibition. An additional $10,000 is still needed to fund this important program.
• Planned Giving: Two generous bequests were received that helped support the ABS season.
• Development Committee: A new Development Committee, chaired by ABS board member Helen Drake Muirhead, has been formed to aid in ABS' major gift fundraising activities.

Development Opportunities for the 2005/06 Season

• General operating expenses: Keep ABS healthy by making non-restricted donations.
• 2006 American Bach Soloists & Henry I. Goldberg International Young Artists Competition: Make an additional gift in support of the Competition. Another $10K is needed – including $6,000 in prize monies.
• St. Matthew Passion: Make an additional gift to support performances of Bach's magnificent work featuring nine soloists, the ABS chorus and orchestra, and the Pacific Boychoir.
• SummerFest Expansion: Make an additional gift to support the expansion of SummerFest to San Francisco (Grace Cathedral Chapel) and Davis (Mondavi Studio Theatre). Now more people will have the opportunity to enjoy this delightful summer evening experience!
• Davis/Sacramento Area Students to receive 500-800 free tickets to St. Matthew Passion: Make an additional gift to underwrite the cost of free tickets that will be made available to instrumental and vocal students in the Davis-Sacramento Area for the May 8th performance of St. Matthew Passion at the Mondavi Center.
• Make an additional gift of $2,000 to sponsor an ABS musician or soloist of your choice from the 2005/06 Season.
• Join "Encore," ABS' new Planned Giving Society. Remember ABS in your will or estate planning and become a charter member of "Encore."