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The Kelowna Community Concert Association is non-profit organization which presents 5 concerts a year usually starting in October and running till April. It is run entirely by volunteers, receives no outside funding, does not solicit sponsors and has had a loyal following for 35 years in Kelowna. It’s fiscal success is predicated on pre-selling memberships, thus ensuring a full house for each season. Only professional artists of international and national fame are selected; the consistent success of these concerts is based on presenting a variety of music, theatre and dance designed to have wide audience appeal.
Our History: Even in the depths of the Great Depression there were people dedicated to bringing nationally and internationally renowned musicians to Kelowna. The problem of raising sufficient funds to pay for the performers, and sometimes their instruments, resulted in a major campaign, in 1935, to sell 300 season tickets at $2 each for three concerts (the break-even point) . It was a hard sell but eventually, with extensive advertising in the Daily Courier, Capital News and CKOV radio, 269 members attended the first concert with Nancy Reed, a pianist, followed by John Goss “a well known English baritone”. The group rented the High School auditorium for $25 for three concerts! Unfortunately we have no further information as to what happened to this group or how long they continued. Fast forward to 1967 when another group of arts-starved individuals stepped forward and initiated a move to bring a professional concert series to Kelowna at an affordable price; fortunately, many of these people remain as members today. Their efforts were rewarded with an enthusiastic response and the consequent formation of the present Kelowna Community Concert Association formally incorporated as a society in 1985 with Dorothy Boyle as president. Originally part of the Canadian Concert Association, concerts were selected from a “menu” circulated each year from the parent company in New York. Unfortunately, in 1994 this arrangement was no longer viable when the exchange rate changed so much that we could no longer afford the artists, most of whom were American. Now the selection is made through Canadian artist management groups with whom we have an excellent working relationship; the concerts always feature national or international artists with proven performance records and are always sold out. In the early days memberships for 3 concerts were $15 for adults and our records show that in 1975 the theatre charged us $390 for 3 concerts. Today it is closer to $1,000 per concert! The membership fees, however, are still a bargain at $60 for 5 concerts. The success of this organization is entirely due to its volunteers; no management fees are paid and help is always willingly given. The cost of membership is predicated on selling out the house before engaging the artists, all of whom are professionals who earn their living from their craft. Hence a vigorous renewal campaign which relies heavily on the good will and loyalty of the members. (June 2008)
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Volunteers help with back stage refreshments, mail-outs to members, stage managing, hosting receptions and floral arrangements. You may also have special skills that we should know about in which case we would encourage you to get in touch! Please note that “front of house” duties such as ushering, refreshment service and managing the coat room are the responsibility of the Kelowna Community Theatre volunteers . If you would like to join us either as a board director or as a volunteer please give us a call at 250 762 9059 or e-mail us at community_concerts@shaw.ca
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Kelowna Community Concert
Association email: community_concerts@shaw.ca phone: Yvonne Topf 250-762-9059 or Doreen Bowers 250-707-0229
Copyright 2008, Kelowna
Community Concert Association |
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