PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Nicole Belmont President of the Board This year Choral Chameleon celebrated its 10th anniversary. Beyond attaining this happy milestone, this year saw real validation of our mission’s effectiveness through the external recognition and exposure we received. The cornerstone of Season 10 was the invitation from National Sawdust in Brooklyn to be a Group-in-Residence, as the first choir they had included in their Residency program to date. We had become familiar with the space and the management of this groundbreaking venue in Season 9, through our collaborations with their residents Sxip Shirey, Caroline Polachek and R.B. Schlather. In Season 10 we become headliners in our own right, which enabled us to showcase our eclectic programming ethos. Recognition for Founding Artistic Director Vince Peterson came in the shape of Chorus America’s Louis Botto Award for Innovative Action and Entrepreneurial Zeal, which recognizes strides made by an individual on behalf of the professional choral art. Multiple aspects of Choral Chameleon’s activities and ethos were called out such as our Composer in Residence program, Summer Institute, unconventional presentations and programming, as well as the accommodation of professional singers’ multi-faceted careers in NYC. Vince was further acknowledged this year by his alma mater, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, who extended an invitation to him to bring our Ensemble to San Francisco for a short residency as part of their own Centenary celebrations. The Board embraced the challenge to make this tour possible and were able to successfully navigate the additional costs without having to do additional campaigning. I must thank Michael Squitieri our Treasurer in particular, for helping us to manage cashflow with such aplomb. One of the most exciting things about Season 10 was the influx of new non-singing members to the Board, enabling us to return to a mix of perspectives beyond the singing membership in our governing body. Fundraising followed Season 9’s example, crowdfunding early in the season, which enabled us to showcase our artistic programs upfront, and to raise funds in good time to calibrate costs accurately. The return to grant writing in Season 9 paid off in Season 10, with an award from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, enabling us to present our Fall choral-theater concert ‘Body’ with the desired orchestration and theatrical venue. All the above was achieved through the dedication of our volunteer administrative staff, both on and off the Board, and via the generosity of over 200 donors, whom I heartily thank for their support.
5
