OCWC 2023-2024 Annual Report

A message from our Board President Our 26th season took the OCWC to new heights, both at home and abroad. We are so grateful to our patrons, donors, friends, and family for helping us spread our wings. This season, I took on the mantle of President of the Board of Directors from Mary Langsdorf, Founding and Past President, without whom the OCWC would not be as successful as it is today. We are eternally grateful for her 25 years of service as Board President and her continued service as a Board member, singer, and friend.

The 2023—2024 season was an incredible year of exploration and adventure for the OCWC. These are some of the things the OCWC accomplished with your support: We began our 2023—2024 season with a lively celebration of the holidays, featuring our wonderful pianist, Janelle Kim, in John Rutter’s beloved Dancing Day. In March 2024, we presented what may have been our most impactful concert to date: “Arms.” Audiences and singers alike were moved to tears as we explored the country’s fraught history of gun violence with musical meditations on fear, anger, healing, and love.

A few short weeks later, we hosted a magical iteration of our annual “Glass of Cabaret” fundraiser, during which solos and small groups cast an auditory spell as the audience enjoyed delicious treats, wine graciously provided by Vinos Unidos, and an incredible silent auction. With your help, we raised more than twice our fundraising goal!

You made our annual i🤍OCWC online fundraiser a rousing success, helping us raise nearly twice our goal.

We opened our arms for our June 2024 concert, “Wings,” an adventure through songs of flight, travel, and creatures of the sky.

Nearly two-thirds of OCWC singers traveled to Croatia in June 2024 for our third international tour. We opened the Večeri na Griču summer music festival in Zagreb, in collaboration with the Vladimir Prelog Choir. We traveled to the nearby medieval town of Samobor, where we performed and broke bread with Volkani Ansambl Samoborke.

We then toured the coast of the Istrian Peninsula and closed our tour with a concert overlooking the Adriatic Sea in Opatija. Your support provided over $20,000 in tour scholarships to singers who would otherwise not have been able to make the trip.

We appreciate your ongoing support. Our success would not be possible without your gifts.

Thank you for continuing to believe in our mission, encouraging us to keep singing about tough subjects, and buoying us as we spread our wings in the hopes of achieving even bigger goals in the future!

Katrina Veldkamp President, Board of Directors

About us Mission The Orange County Women’s Chorus creates and performs outstanding choral literature, engages and enriches our audiences, and celebrates women in music.

Vision The Orange County Women’s Chorus is nationally regarded as an artistic and organizational leader in women’s choral music.

Values We, the singers and Board members of the Orange County Women’s Chorus, value: Excellence: The Orange County Women’s Chorus pursues artistic excellence by recruiting talented and dedicated musicians, preparing and performing choral music with the highest level of artistic integrity, and commissioning new works for women’s voices.

Community: The Orange County Women’s Chorus fosters a deeply felt sense of community among its members. We support each other, have fun, and work together to achieve artistic excellence. The OCWC strives to extend this sense of community to our audiences, collaborators, and donors.

Diversity: The Orange County Women’s Chorus embraces different perspectives and abilities. We are women who come from a variety of backgrounds, life experiences, and professions, ranging in age from young adult to retirees. We are committed to performing music from different cultures and eras, in original languages.

Leadership: The Orange County Women’s Chorus is an advocate for women’s choral music and for women in music. We commission and perform new work for women’s voices and we offer opportunities for women to develop expertise and gain recognition as singers and conductors. Our board is actively engaged in organizational development, and is committed to adopting best practices for nonprofits and lifelong learning.

OCWC by the numbers: Member tenure 21-25 years 10%

Percentage of current singers who were not yet born when the OCWC offered its first concert in December 1998:

>25 years 5%

11-15 years 8%

0-5 years 49%

6-10 years 28%

Geographical distribution of singers Our singers represent 23 communities in Orange County, 26 across southern CA.

12%

Tickets sold

1,214 tickets sold

vs. previous year of 1,124, an 8% increase

Donor growth

21%

increase vs. last year.

There were 336 individual (excluding singers and board members) donors. of our singers live in Orange County.

Social media engagement is on the rise FY24 vs. FY23 our Facebook & Instagram increased: • 49% in reach • 130% in followers

Number of conducting interns since 2002

Our commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment where board members, staff, volunteers, chorus members and audience members feel respected and valued regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or identity, disability status or educational level.

We are committed to being nondiscriminatory and providing equal opportunities for employment, volunteering and advancement in all areas of our work.

We recognize that pervasive cultural biases and historic and institutional racism—whether conscious or unconscious, past or present—have benefited some communities while limiting opportunities and outcomes for communities of color. As artists, we seek to communicate with our audiences—and with each other—in ways that will shape a more positive and equitable future for everyone.

We respect the value that diverse life experiences bring to our board and leadership, and we strive to listen to and value the views and perspectives of our members and our audience.

A message from our Artistic Director Sometimes a song becomes an anthem.

Sometimes lyrics become a rallying cry. In our 26th season, we carried May Erlewine’s “Never One Thing,” in its brilliant arrangement by Corie Brown, with us both in California and in Croatia, bringing its message of the multitudes in each of us to audiences on both sides of the ocean. “I’m the underbelly, I am the claw—never one thing, no, not one thing at all!....I am a mother, I am a child, I am the meek, I am the wild! I am a witch, I am a saint, I am alive—never one thing!” That’s the kind of season we had: One full of witches and angels, mothers and children, wilderness and wonder, exploration and introspection.

We opened the year wearing our literal witch hats for a scary-awesome Halloween collaboration with Men Alive: The Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus, then followed that with a concert of holiday cheer centered around John Rutter’s beloved Dancing Day. In March we gave one of our most daring programs yet: “Arms,” a concert of music about America’s gun crisis, its victims, its survivors, and our vision of a better future, with special guests from the local chapter of Moms Demand Action. No performance we’ve ever presented has garnered the level of media attention that “Arms” did, but more importantly, none has evoked more emotion from our audience or our singers. Were you there? If so, we’re grateful to you for trusting us enough to go on that difficult but beautiful journey with us.

We closed the season with a concert about “Wings” of all sorts—the ones found on bees and birds and angels, the ones that buoy our ambition and imagination, and the ones that took 36 of us (plus a handful of traveling companions) to Croatia for nine marvelous days in late June and early July! Thanks in large part to the support of our generous donors, we sang in beautiful churches, shared concerts and meals with amazing local choruses, climbed a modest mountain to see a ruined castle, plunged off a boat alongside a happy dolphin in the Adriatic Sea, and even went truffle-hunting in the woods with two bouncy curly dogs. From its most elegant and perfectly-planned moments to its most spontaneous and unexpected joys, it was a trip we’ll never forget....and not just because our suitcases still smell like truffles!

It was a busy and dizzy season, with more laughs and more tears than perhaps any in the quarter-century of OCWC seasons before it. But that’s how we like it. “I am a woman, I am the ring, I am my own—never one thing!” Thanks, as always, for supporting us as we give voice to all the things that make us who we are.

Artistic highlights Artistic highlights of our 2023—2024 season included...

Our friends at Men Alive: The Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus invited us to be their guests for a Halloween spectacular called “Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun”—and boy, did we ever have fun singing songs about witches and zombies for packed houses at the Irvine Barclay Theater!

Spirituals, carols, and original holiday tunes made for a holiday program that had all of us humming for days afterward. Our “Dancing Day” concert also featured the OCWC debut of our 2023-24 Conducting Intern, Abigail Sorber!

What can we say about “Arms”? We’ve never sung a concert of such raw emotion on such a difficult topic. As Eliza said in her introduction, music can’t change the gun violence crisis....but maybe it can help change us into people with the will to try.

Photo by Leonard Ortiz

Our trip to Croatia was full of artistic highlights, but one of our favorites was singing in the 14th— century Church of Saint Anastazija in the idyllic town of Samobor alongside our new friends from the Samoborke Vocal Ensemble.

In Zagreb, we got to meet Tihomir Petrović, one of the composers whose works we’ve performed. Not only did he come to meet us in our rehearsal, but he and his regal dog, Maks, attended our outdoor concert at Park Zrinjevac on a beautiful warm evening!

What did our singers think of our Croatia tour?

•

Touring with this group is always extraordinary, because it’s not just about going places, it’s about going places with a sense of purpose with such lovely people. We are bound together by our joy in making music, but also by our delight in experiencing new and wonderful things.

•

It was an amazing time to share our music with other people in other countries. At the same time, we learned and gained so much more than we gave, by being immersed in a different culture and different environment together.

•

This tour was truly a once—in—a—lifetime experience. I don’t believe I’ll have another opportunity to visit Croatia, and I so enjoyed learning about Croatian history, culture, and music. Everyone we met was warm and welcoming, and we quickly learned that language barriers need not get in the way of understanding one another.

•

Our Croatia tour was an amazing opportunity to strengthen our connection as an ensemble as we shared our music in new and exciting places! We learned about different music traditions and built relationships with people who share our passion for singing. Along the way, we experienced incredible scenery, food, and historical sights!

John Rutter “Coventry Carol” and “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day”

Alysia Lee: Say Her Name (2020)

May Erlewine, arr. Corie Brown: Never One Thing (2019)

Artistic leaders

Eliza Rubenstein, Artistic Director

Sarah Hughes, Assistant Director

Janelle Kim, Pianist

Financial highlights Our 2023—2024 season brought us the largest number of season ticket holders in our history, total ticket sales that approximated our pre—pandemic levels, and an incredible performance tour to Croatia. Tour revenue and expenses are excluded from our performance graphs, as the tour is largely self—funded by singers. Scholarships are available to those who could not otherwise participate, and we are extremely grateful to our generous donors who made it possible for us to grant more than $20,000 in scholarships for this tour. This fiscal year included no government grants, as COVID funding came to an end. Every gift you make, makes a difference!

How we’re funded Excluding the tour, 62% of our contributed revenue came from individuals and corporations, including singers and board members. This is a larger percentage of the total pie than in prior years largely because recent years included grant funding designed to support organizations emerging from the pandemic. Ticket sales provided 18% of our total operating revenue, and we’re thrilled to see that number on an upward trajectory as patrons return to live performances. Our investment income provided a larger percentage of our total operating revenue, as we invested cash in certificates of deposit and high—yield savings accounts earning approximately 5%.

Special Events and Gifts in Kind 13%

Investment Income 4%

Grants 3% Individual and Corporate Contributions 29%

Tickets 18%

Singer and Board Contributions 33%

How we use our money

Use of In Kind Donations 8%

Excluding tour costs, 66% of our funding was spent on programming: artistic compensation and expenses, production costs, and marketing. Management and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of the whole because our Chorus Administrator supported us for the full year, compared to a partial year in 2023.

Fundraising expenses remained consistent at 6% of total operating costs.

General and Administrative 20%

Fundraising 6%

Program Expenses 66%

Unaudited Statement of Financial Position as of June 30, 2024 and 2023

Assets

2024

Cash

2023

$175,372

$184,604

802

636

Accounts and pledges receivable Other current assets

3,882

13,127

Total current assets

180,056

198,367

$180,056

$198,367

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$ 10,003

$ 10,643

Operating, commisioning, touring reserves Deferred revenue

126,137 -

134,897

Total current liabilities Total liabilities

136,140 $136,140

154,590 $154,590

Total net assets

43,916 $180,056

43,777 $198,367

Total assets

Liabilities and Net Assets

Total liabilities and net assets

9,050

Unaudited Statement of Activities For the Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

Revenue

2024

2023

Contributed support

$129,480

$180,230

Earned revenues, including tour revenue

236,649

34,181

Total revenue

$375,157

$222,651

$209,037

$ 7,690

Salaries & related expenses Program/artistic expenses

74,683 3,065

42,165

Program/production expenses

31,263

36,517

Non-personnel expenses Occupancy expenses

20,719 11,540

24,835

Travel & other business expenses

11,095

17,126

Special events

Expenses

Tour and tour scholarship expense

Other personnel expenses

Total expeses

Change in net assets Net assets, beginning of year

Net assets, end of year

9,028

13,616

8,240

70,898

12,176 10,460

$375,018

$221,867

139

784

43,777

42,993

$ 43,916

$ 43,777

Administrative leaders 2023-2024

KATRINA VELDKAMP

BOARD PRESIDENT

LAUREL CHOWDHURY

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

LAURA RAYNES

D A T A A N A LY T I C S F O R AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING

KATHRYN J. BALDASARI

F I N A N C E A N D S T R AT E G Y

MARGUERITE DUPRIEU CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

ALEC WATERS

O P E R AT I O N S A N D TECHNOLOGY

MARJORIE A. BEALE

F I N A N C E A N D S T R AT E G Y

MARY C. LANGSDORF FOUNDING AND I M M E D I AT E PA S T PRESIDENT

KIM JENSEN

CHORUS A D M I N I S T R AT O R

JANET A. BRATTON O P E R AT I O N S

JASMINE NICHOLSON AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Contributors Dame Ethel Smyth’s Suffragist Army (Gifts of $2,500 and above) Archarios Foundation Janet Bratton and Tom Nichols The Horowitz Group Cynthia and David Knell Mary and Bill Langsdorf Leslie and Robert Mulford Ellen Quandahl and Larry Wheeler Laurie Soderberg, Kristen Soderberg, and Luke Goebel Mary Watson Clara Schumann’s Musical Family (Gifts of $1,500 - $2,499) Anonymous Kathryn and Nick Baldasari Marjorie Beale and William Meyerhoff Laurel and Debashis Chowdhury Tracy and Barry Kogen Kent Rhodes and Bob Gunn Hildegard von Bingen’s Community of Vision (Gifts of $500 to $1,500) AYCO Charitable Foundation, Jeffrey A. and Susan L. Berkel Fund Benevity, Inc. Boeing Corporation Sherry Caldwell Elizabeth Cowan and Rebecca Chadwick John Feeney Patricia and Richard George John Holcombe and Jeff Whittaker Steven and Faith James Kimberly Jensen Jill Johnson-Tucker and Larry Tucker Chiara and Vincent Ko Karen and James McBride Katherine McKalip Patricia Morgan Lindsey Philpott PwC Laura Raynes and Mark Dizon Lisa Roetzel and Alan Terricciano Calvin and Caroline Roetzel

Eliza Rubenstein Martha Selby Val Simson Sherri Sobel Dr. Sharon Stevenson Claire and David Stoneman Truist Financial Corportion Barbara and James van Gaasbeek Harry and Sara Veldkamp Katrina Veldkamp and Michael Fischer Claudia Villamizar Petrina Walker Megan and Alec Waters Karen Zfaty Fanny Mendelssohn’s Musical Salon (Gifts of $150 to $499) Anonymous Blessing Agunwamba Erin and Jon Allen Mike Auchter Jayne and David Baldwin Linda Barnhurst Linda and George Bauer Elizabeth Bjornsti and Christopher Persichilli Carolyn and John Breihan Nancy Burke and Dominic Holzhaus Jessica Cosley Braddie and David Dooley Ernest Duarte Marguerite and Jean Baptiste Duprieu Boska and Joseph Dzida Bill and Beth Eldon Julie Fischer Janelle Forney Shannon Fowler Kendal Frear Merrilee Gardner Jessica Garibay Allison Gibbons Adriana Gomez Janice and Paul Goodwin Samantha and Tom Gossage Michael Guscott Ako Harada

Lindsie Hardy Lela and Scott Hardy Marie Hayes Emily Horowitz and Chatom Arkin Alexander Iles Susan Jarratt Bethany Justice Jasmine Khorsandi Genie Kirchner Cheryl Knudsen Jeff Kogen Jaquelyn Kothari Felicia Lee Kathleen Lyttle Kate Manders Cheryl Maxson Shauna McFadden and Shanna George Theresa and Mark McManigal Karina Melgar Logan Mintz-Hernandez Carole and Alex Mintzer Darlene Moen Michael and Joan Neuscheler Brian Noel Shannon Ord Fiona Parker Josefina Parungao MaCall Potter Francie Quaas-Berryman Andrea Romero Elyse and Brad Rosborough Margie and Gary Sacks Mai Saito Paul Sammon and Tom Hall Paul Sandorff Rachel and Joe Sosta Heather Spickard and Alexander Demetrescu Cathryn Starr and Ronald Banks Sara Stearns and Brad Hammond Judy Tanasse Brittany Traufler Anne Walthall Frank Washington Yvonne Waters Mikita Weaver Stephanie and Keith Wright Jennifer Yalamanchi Marion and Steve Yerxa

Chiara Margarita Cozzolani’s Chorus (Gifts up to $149) Anonymous Lorna Adkins Ladan Akbarnia Kathy Alberti Rick Anderson Susan Anguiano Franklin Anvia Kelly and Philip Arnold Carole Arvidson Linda Axel Maria Bach Catherine Bailey Harold and Marianna Baker Sue Ballew Helen Bauer Christopher Beach Patricia Beck Adam Belhouchat Diana Bellafiore Sarah Benson Kieran and Marilyn Bergin Pamela Bertin Gillian Bidgood Carol and Larry Black Christopher Blank and Josie Badeaux Kira Blumberg Carol Boldt Rosemary Boyd Tina Bradley Lianne Bremer Judy Bronson Peter and Melissa Browning Emily Bruce Sandi Buzzell Cristina Calderone Deborah and Don Calkins JoJo and Mike Caprini Leslie Carr Julie Carroll Kathryn Cartelli Donna Catalano Galen Centeno Julie Chay Fidelity Charitable Denise Chilcote Jinshik Chung Rachel Cleary

Chuck and Janet Coe Danielle Cohen Patti Melvin Collen Christine Cook Christopher and Marika Cook Richard and Libby Cook Karen Cook and Roy Nichols Carolyn Cooper Gretchen Cranor Christine Cwiertny John Dablow III Timothy Deutschman Clyde Dodge Cindy Donaldson Emily Done Cynthia Downing Gail Dufour Troy Eades Dolores Ealy-O’Neal Stephanie Eckerman Linda Edey Carolyn Estrada Christine Evans Sharon Everley Janielle Fagent Donald Fike Debbie Fleming Steve Forney Aviva Forster Dave Frear Sandy Galin Susan Garrett Wendy Gary Nancy Gehlbach Diane Gillean Oliver Glenn Bruce and Sharon Goldstein Rick Golson Guillermo Gomez, Jr. Marissa Gonzalez Christina and Mike Grant Michael Burton and Ellen Greenberger Aaron Griffith John and Stella Hacker Cricket Handler Justine Hansen Judy Hante Valerie Hardman Jonathan Haviv

KJ (Kim) Heidebrecht Paul Heng and Bunthy Kuooch Bob Higginbotham Coty Hitchcock Cheri Clark Hodgson Caran Holland Laurie Hoops Margaret Houck Joshua Hummel Karen Ann Hurst iGive.com Holdings, LLC Melanie Inskeep Rick Isaacs Janet Cooper Jackson Betty Jackson Chardette Jameson Joyce Jenson David Jimenez Tommi Johnson Lynne Kabaczy Masahito Kagawa Kathleen and Mark Karnowski Wyatt Kiedrowski Suzanne Klein Abhay Kothari Ashleigh Kovach Randi Kraemer Kroger Saeko Kujiraoka Deborah Kuryan Arlie Langager Emily Larson Teresa LePage Susan and Rich Liechty CJ Lucke Carie Lynn Nina Macdonald and Ted Wright Elizabeth Maciag Gigi Maki Elizabeth Manji Hazel Mann Frank Manning Jeremy Manweller Timothy and Diana Martin Mary Martin Richard Martin Matthew Martinez Lourdes and Timothy Mason Joanna Maxwell

Linda Mayer Donna McCune and Tim Walker James McCurdy Jamie S. McDonald Danny Mckee Carol McLaughlin Kirke and Donata Mechem Howard Meharg Thomas Meisenhelder Jeanette Melgar Diane Menninger Sally Menzel Stephanie Meyer William Meyerhoff Steven Michel John Middlebrooks Steve Milloy Penelope Milne Rohde and Alejandro Morales Maria Moretti Lynn Morgan Midori Morimoto Masako Morita Jennifer Mulford Nicolette Myers Neeti Nanda Kim Nason Angela Nelson Angel Nguyen Kevin Nicholson Caroline Nicholson Sabrina Niselman Kevin Nordine Renée and Cory Oakes Leah Omaiye Sam Orfield Andrea Paris Madge McCollum Parker Susan Parr Olivia Parungao Neal Paton Karen Pender Franz Potter Christopher Pounds Teri Pearson Poythress Kimberly Pressley Carrie Preusse Linda and JT Price Linda C. Radano and David Shuler Jocelyne Ramirez

Doreen C. Ramsey Ed Reese Fatima Rizvi-Flores Julie Roberts Vicki Roberts Stephen Rochford Mary Roetzel Jennifer Rohen Jesus Romero William Roop Kierstyn Rosales Ashley Rose Jessica Rubenstein Meghan and Eric Ruggio Julian Rymar Joann Schaum Carolyn Scheer Marcia Carroll Scholl Stephanie E Scott Barbara Seagren Lisa Sedares Teresa Sforza Teri Sforza Dean Shackle Catherine Sharbaugh Angie Sharp Lynn Shipley Val Shirgal Ellen Shockro Pamela Silk Janet Smith Magen Solomon John Sorber Nathan Staph Paula-Rose Stark Terry Steagall Chris Sumpter Albert Swarthout Kathleen Sylvester Mariko Takahashi Darryl Taylor Lisa Thess Paula Thomas Tony Thornton James Toledano Celine Torkan Dale Trumbore Michael Tucker Ann Tweedy Karen Tyson

Ellen Upton Nicolas Urrea Vanessa Vail Nancy Valett Luke Verseput Murray and April Wachtenheim Kenneth Waldram Eric Walton Robert L. Ward and Atzin Azpeitia Marie Washington Michelle and David Washington Martin Waters Raven Weaver Herbert G Weaver Jr Merri Weir Denise Weiss Lynn West Van White Monique Wike James Wilson Tracy Winfree Andrea Wooldridge Marilyn Wright Marion Yerxa Anne Yung Allison Zema Jingyuan Zhang Chung Cha Ziesel-Fitch Max and Saeko Zirkelbach

In-kind Donors, FY24 We cheerfully accept in-kind donations to support our general business needs (for example, printer paper, file folders, printer ink), our annual fundraising events (for example, wine, hors d’oeuvres, and items for our silent auction, including event tickets, gift cards, gift baskets, and experiences), and our tours and travel (airline miles are most welcome!). If you would like to make an in-kind donation, please email us. The Orange County Women’s Chorus operates under 501(c)(3) non-profit status, Federal Tax ID 330895635. Please consult your tax advisor to determine the deductibility of your donation.

The OCWC gratefully acknowledges the following individuals, businesses, and organizations for their generous in-kind donations of goods and services in the 2023 – 2024 season. These include donations to our silent auction, use of facilities, and pro bono or discounted services. We encourage our supporters to patronize the arts and cultural organizations and businesses below.

Kathryn and Nick Baldasari Baroque Music Festival Elizabeth Bjornsti Bowers Museum Janet Bratton and Tom Nichols Chance Theater Laurel and Debashis Chowdhury Coastal Kitchen Lindsie Hardy Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano Huntington Beach Symphony Orchestra Jasmine Khorsandi Cynthia and David Knell Chiara and Vincent Ko Jaquelyn Kothari Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach Chamber Singers Mary and Bill Langsdorf Lyon Air Museum MenAlive, Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus Logan Mintz-Hernandez Patricia Morgan Leslie and Robert Mulford Pacific Chorale Pacific Symphony Philharmonic Society of Orange County Ellen Quandahl and Larry Wheeler Lisa Roetzel and Alan Terricciano

Laurie Soderberg South Coast Repertory South Coast Symphony Claire and David Stoneman Katrina Veldkamp and Michael Fischer Vinos Unidos Wines Mikita Weaver Webb Grain Works

23802 Avenida De La Carlota Laguna Hills, CA 92653 www.ocwomenschorus.org info@ocwomenschorus.org