Summer music festivals often venture beyond beloved blockbusters to explore new music. These range from deep-dive events that focus exclusively on new music to festivals that commission, perform, and spotlight contemporary scores in the context of the canon—lending new perspectives to both.
This August will mark the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote—and orchestras are responding with commissions of music by women composers this season and next.
With large-group gatherings banned and concert halls closed due to the novel coronavirus this spring, orchestras performed their concerts to empty halls—the audiences were online.
In the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic and shut-down that expand daily, orchestras and musicians are keeping the music going by embracing a new digital normal.
What role should nonprofits play in today’s rapidly evolving society? League President and CEO Jesse Rosen and Daniel H. Weiss, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, discuss how nonprofits and their boards are adapting to new expectations about transparency, ethics, and community engagement.
News and updates from orchestras everywhere. In this issue: orchestras confront coronavirus; Simon Woods named League of American Orchestras’ next president and CEO; progress at National Alliance for Audition Support; awards and honors for the orchestra field.
As Election Nears, COVID-19 Relief Talks Pause, Resume, and Refocus; SBA Releases Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Updates; Universal Charitable Deduction and the Latest Giving Trends; New Visa Fee and Forms on Pause, but Congress Approves PPS Hike
Orchestras that engage international guest artists should be aware that the new forms and fees that were to go into effect October 2 have been paused due to a nationwide preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Petitioners should continue to use the current version of the Form I-129 (dated 01/27/20) and $460 filing fee for O and P visas for the time being.
Building on years of advocacy by orchestras in partnership with the broader nonprofit sector, a new universal charitable deduction was created under the CARES Act in March, allowing the growing number of taxpayers who do not itemize their returns to receive a tax deduction of up to $300 per tax return for cash charitable donations to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations during calendar year 2020.
A complete list of National Endowment for the Arts Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grantees is available, but the list below represents grants awarded directly to orchestras by the NEA. These grants, in the amount of $50,000 each, will support personnel and facilities costs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.