According to Fine Arts Chamber Players’ Executive Director Morgan Vaughan,
“‘Always free,’ ‘free for all’ and simply ‘free’ appear in every single promotion from Fine Arts Chamber Players (FACP). It’s startling to many – and quite frankly, to me – that we are able to provide world-class classical music concerts in Dallas Art District’s world-class venues (11 per year) and music education programming taught by professional musicians in school districts that would otherwise have no music education whatsoever – and all for free.
“Our mission of free concerts for all is the difference between many people being able to take in a concert and not. During our ‘Basically Beethoven Festival’ just this past July, I was struck by how many families with young children attend. As it wasn’t too long ago that I was in that situation, and I remember the math: two tickets for adults to a show / concert is no less than $40 each, and then about an additional half of that for two children, if they’re allowed in. So, one concert could be as much as $120 for a family, they’ve not eaten or driven or taken transportation yet, and that’s on the low end. Seniors, too, often on limited budgets, benefit from our mission. Concert-going is not in many people’s wherewithal; it certainly wasn’t in mine, and what a shame. FACP’s free concerts mean that an entire family – from babies to grandparents – can experience professional musicianship in concerts expertly curated when it would otherwise be out of the question. Absolutely amazing.
“Between our ‘Basically Beethoven Festival’ (4 concerts in July) and our ‘Hallam Family Concert’ series (7 concerts during the year), roughly 4,000 people attend our concerts in person. Since the pandemic, we have also filmed each concert and released it for free viewing online – another access point for anyone to enjoy.
“We love our concerts, but we are also very serious about our music education programming. Each school year, 4-5 professional singers, violinists, and pianists teach middle and high school students in disadvantaged districts in Dallas. These lessons are in-school, private, and cost the student and school districts nothing. Some of our students have gone on to university for music degrees, one is a distinguished composer, but all were influenced in one way or another by the opportunity to learn music, about music, about a career in music, and to learn discipline, teamwork, listening skills, and all the other important residuals of art and music education.
“My personal background is as a singer and actress and in theater and education, and I can’t think of a place I’ve worked where such a tremendous difference is made to so many in all the right ways.”
* Photo credit: Fine Arts Chamber Players ** Graphic/photo provided by Fine Arts Chamber Players
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