Youth Outreach Concerts
In 1996, the Gateway Festival Orchestra began a series of Youth Outreach Concerts at inner city youth centers. During the summer, the Brass Quintet, String Quartet and Woodwind Quintet perform ten lecture/demonstration concerts for young people, introducing them to great music. These concerts are partially funded by a grant from Regional Arts Commission and the Music Performance Fund.
Pre-Concert Educational Presentation
In 1988, the Gateway Festival Orchestra initiated a special pre-concert presentation for young children called Notes to Munch On. By 2002, it had evolved into a pre-concert presentation for people of all ages, introducing them to the music to be performed on the concert that evening.
Fund-Raising Activites
The Gateway Festival Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) organization, and any money raised goes directly to the support of the orchestra. In the past, such events as concerts, benefits and grant-writing have helped fund our organization. In the fall of 2002, Debbie Haferkamp spearheaded a benefit concert called the Sym-Funny, highlighting humor in music. In late Spring, 2006, due to the generosity of the Roland Quest Memorial Fund of the St. Louis Community Foundation, we have begun a matching fund challenge recommended by Phyllis R. Tirmenstein of $5,000 to be completed by calendar year-end.
This grant was renewed for 2007, increased to $7,000 for 2008, and again increased to $9,000 for 2009/2010!