SR-12-10-2013-13C1 ®C
Council Meeting: December 10, 2013 Santa Monica, California
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE — MEMORANDUM
To: City Council
From: Mayor O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tern O'Day and Councilmember McKeown
Date: December 10, 2013
13 -C: Request of Mayor O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tern O'Day and Councilmember
McKeown that the Council support the non - profit Samohi Orchestra
Parents Association with a $25,000 matching grant from the Council
discretionary funds, to assist in scholarships for students from lower -
income families to participate in the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra
European performance and cultural tour, including Vienna, Prague, and
Baden - Baden, in April of 2014.
IM
December 10, 2013
Mayor Pam O'Connor
City Council members
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street, Room 209
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Re: Santa Monica High School Symphony Orchestra Tout— Vienna, Prague and Baden -Baden 2014
December 3, 2013
Dear Mayor O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tempore O'Day and City Council members:
The Santa Monica High School Symphony Orchestra is preparing for a musical tour of Vienna, Prague and
Baden- Baden, Germany in April 2014, providing students with rich educational experiences and showcasing the
outstanding music program at Santa Monica's public schools. Highlights include performing at the Frank
Gehry- designed MuI'h in Vienna and Dvorak Hall in Prague. The Symphony Orchestra student ambassadors
also will attend concerts at the Musikverein in Vienna, the Rudolfitmm in Prague and will hear the world -
renowned Berlin Philharmonic perform in the Festspielhaus in Baden- Baden. The students will participate in
musical learning exchanges along with visits to culturally significant sites.
The orchestra students, staff and parents have been engaged in intense fundraising activity in preparation for this
opportunity. The total cost of the tour is $388,000, with a per student cost of $3805. Many of the families are
requesting financial assistance for this tour. With parent pledges and fundraising pledges to date, Samohi
Orchestra Parents Association has raised approximately $326,000. Through our extensive future fundraising
events, including large concerts, chamber performances and corporate and direct donations, the Orchestra
Parents Association anticipates raising another $37.000, leaving a gap of approximately $25,000.
We arc asking you, the members of the City Council of Santa Monica, to sponsor this Symphony tour by
granting the remaining needed $25,000 in financial assistance that will help send these dedicated young musicians
to represent our city abroad. We are deeply appreciative of your history of sponsoring the Symphony Orchestra
as ambassadors of the City of Santa Monica, providing financial assistance for previous tours. Sponsorsbip
funds will be used for financial aid for qualified students, chaperone costs, and instrument rentals. While student
participation in the tour is voluntary, maximum participation is critical in order to represent the high quality of
the Santa Monica music program.
You can view a recent Santa Monica High School Symphony Orchestra performance on
http: / /www.youtube.com /watch ?v= KVUFrKf 7c7c &feature =youtti.be. Also, attached please find a brochure
describing our exceptional orchestra program.
Please let me know if there is any further information that you need in order to consider our request. Our
musicians would be delighted to perform for you at one of your upcoming meetings, if possible. Samohi's
diverse and award winning orchestra will proudly represent our City of Santa Monica in Austria, Germany and
the Czech Republic. Thank you in advance for considering our request for your sponsorship.
Sincerely,
Joni Swenson and Jason Aiello
Samolu Orchestras Directors
Kimberka Daggy, Fundraising Chair
Janc Bordal and Karen Safrit
Samoln Orchestra Parents Association
Cc: Eva Mayoral, Samoln Principal
Catherine Baxter, Samohi Dean of Students
Tom Whaley, SMMUSD Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator
December 5, 2013
TO: Mayor O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tempore O' Day and City Council members
FROM: Santa Monica Parents Arts Association— Samohi Orchestras
RE: Request for City Sponsorship of Symphony Tour — addendum to 12/03/13 request
The nonprofit parents association of the SAMOHI orchestras has requested city
sponsorship for the Santa Monica High School Symphony Orchestra musical tour of
Vienna, Prague and Baden - Baden, Germany in April 2014. This memo clarifies the
purpose and use of the grant request from the City of Santa Monica, and provides
information about the matching grant challenge SMAPA- OPA will issue should the
request be granted.
The organization is requesting $25,000 to provide funds for students in need of financial
assistance to participate in the torn. SMAPA - Samohi Orchestra has committed to raising
$60,000 for financial assistance to ensure that the tour is affordable for all students to
participate. We will issue a dollar- for - dollar matching challenge — as detailed below
should the grant be awarded, bringing us 83% toward our financial assistance f ndraising
goal. We have identified other sources for the remaining $10,000 in financial assistance,
as well as for the many other costs associated with this tour. City funds will be used
exclusively for financial aid.
Our eominitment is to ensure that ALL students who choose to to participate in the tour
are able to. For confidentiality reasons, SMAPA- Samohi Orchestras parent association
does not have income information about families receiving financial assistance. What we
do know is that 31% of Symphony families (27 of 87) requested partial or full financial
assistance, and the SAMOHI administration reviewed and approved all requests, and we
have budgeted $60,000 to meet this demand.
If you would like additional financial information, please email me directly.
Nancy L. Cohen, Treasurer, SMAPA - Samohi Orchestras
Nancy.cohen cr,me.com
MATCHING FUND CAMPAIGN
Fundraising for financial assistance
Corporate & Business Sponsorship
$15,000
Salon fundraising events (performances by
student musicians)
$5,000
Individual direct donations
$5,000
Total matching funds:
$25,000