Random Thoughts on Random Acts of Culture

Earlier this week, I posted a video to our Facebook profile page featuring the Opera Company of Philadelphia and over 650 area choristers.   The video featured a “Random Act of Culture” in the downtown Macy’s department store – most people would describe the “Random Act” as a flash mob.  “Random Act of Culture” refers to the program initiated by the Knight Foundation (www.knightarts.org). 

According to their website,”The program [Random Acts of Culture] is in its first year, and emerging areas of interest include digitization of museum collections, development of arts incubator spaces, arts contests in which all community members are eligible for funding and a Random Acts of Culture program that brings fine art to the population and breaks down barriers that prevent consistent engagement in the arts.”  It’s centered in eight different regions: Akron, OH; Charlotte, NC; Detroit, MI; Macon, GA; Miami, FL; Philadelphia, PA; San Jose, CA; and St. Paul, MN.  Lucky for us to be so near one of the cities!  I’m off to the Panthers game this weekend and I’m really hoping a “Random Act” is performed somewhere in the tailgating parking lots!  If you haven’t seen the videos of Opera Carolina performing some “Random Acts,” there’s one embedded below.  I’ve also embedded the Philadelphia event, because you just really can’t get enough.

I just learned of this great new program the Greensboro Grasshoppers have started for their 2011 season.  It’s called “Guarantee to Give – the Hoppers Playoff Pledge” and it’s a great way to support your favorite charity in Greensboro while supporting our MiLB team!  How it works is this: when an individual or business purchase season tickets to the Grasshoppers, they pick a charity/nonprofit of their choice.  At the end of the season, names of season ticket holders and sponsors will be drawn at random.  If the Grasshoppers make it to the playoffs in 2011, $100,000 will be donated to charity, meaning that 20 names are drawn at random and the 20 charitable groups listed will receive $5,000 each.  If the Hoppers don’t make the playoffs, then $50,000 will be donated to charity; 10 charities would receive $5,000 each.  How great of an idea is this!  Of course I want everyone to suggest EMF as their nonprofit of choice, but there’s no denying that this is a win-win for the entire Greensboro community.  I love seeing the community support one another! But, if you or your friends/family/business are going to be purchasing season tickets, please specify Eastern Music Festival as your nonprofit of choice!

One more plug…Gift Certificates!  Thanksgiving is upon us which means that so is Black Friday.  Here’s my suggestion…instead of fighting those crazy crowds, give the gift of Music to your friends and family this year.  You can purchase EMF Gift Certificates for any amount you wish, and when its Festival time the recipient can apply the gift certificate to any performance they wish.  Sounds like a perfect gift to me!

Here’s the form for gift certificates…or just call down to the office 336.333.7450 ext 32.

YouTube...is Back :)

After some...frustrating months trying to figure out the old EMF YouTube login information, I finally decided it was a pointless and threw my hands in the air in defeat.  My history background doesn't let me stop mid-research without finding an answer - even if I have to 'make up' an answer - so I finally decided I'd just create an entirely new YouTube account and page.  By having the new camera, and in turn the new YouTube page, I will be able to upload clips of EMF performances, guest artists and more!  I am really excited about the possibilities...assuming I learn how to hold my hand still when filming (reminder to myself: buy a tri-pod).  In the meantime, you can check out the new video I posted of Eric Robertson's Listening Room performance on 10/30.  I also "Favorited" (I love how social media allows me to make up words...friended, favorited) the three videos our old account has posted.  And when I master Dreamweaver a little better, I can embed them in the website too :)

EMF's NEW YouTube Page

Until then check us out at EMFGreensboro!

Otherwise, things are moving along just fine over here at headquarters.  It's that part of the year when we're working on sponsors, advertisers and artists....and since I can't tell you guys anything about who is coming, I have to distract you with pretty and entertaining "fun facts."  YES to Samantha, that is Wynton Marsalis pictured in the photo from the last blog.  He was a student/young artist at EMF and later returned as guest artist.  More on Wynton in later blogs!

If you live in Greensboro, you may have checked out the Greensboro Opera's performance of Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) this past Saturday evening.  It was my first opera (well, aside from The Phantom of the Opera, of course!) and I really enjoyed it!  I took along five friends as well, only one of whom was proficient in "opera," and they also had a blast.  Minus the two noisy kids next to me, the performance was great; the Greensboro Symphony sounded amazing as well.  And I just heard that the movie theatre over at Friendly Shopping Center will be showing the MET HD Performances...I'll be featuring them in our Musical News as they arise, so no worries!  You'll be kept up-to-date!  Saturday, Nov 13th at 1pm they'll be showing Don Pasquale. 
 
Keep thinking about questions you'd like to ask Gerard Schwarz!  I know that more than two of you out there have questions you'd like him to answer...otherwise, have a great weekend!

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