April News
April 2015 Newsletter
The “C-Note”: A New Way To Support Keys For The City!
Always wanted to do your part to support one of Lancaster’s most unique, fun, and fonky public arts projects, but couldn’t afford $3,000 to sponsor a piano or $500 to help sponsor the MFE Community Piano? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE to be part of bringing Keys For The City to Lancaster again this summer for a $100 donation. That’s Right! We are looking for sponsors of the MFE “C-Note”. For $100 your name will be incorporated into the design of the piano and those funds will be applied to MFE’s annual instrument grant program. If interested please contact John Gerdy.
MFE’s Third Annual Festival Of Voices Choral Festival a Rousing Success!
We are delighted to report that our third choral festival was again a huge success! We are also thrilled to report that our partnership with Millersville University’s Music Department to greatly expand the third annual Lancaster Festival of Voices was a success as well. For the past two years, FOV has been a one-evening choral festival. This year, MFE and MU combined forces to expand the festival into a weekend-long festival with four distinct events at three different venues. All of these shows were a HUGE success and we look forward to next year’s Festival of Voices! Many thanks to our partner Millersville University, everyone in attendance, and our generous sponsors: The Walters Trust Foundation of the Lancaster Unitarian Church and Linden Hall School for Girls.
Stop By Season’s Oil & Vinegar Taproom for a Chance to Bid on a Fred Swarr Original Painting
During the first half of April, Seasons Oil & Vinegar Taproom will be hosting a silent auction to benefit MFE. This fundraiser is a combined effort between Seasons and the incredibly talented Fred Swarr, whose painting (pictured below) will be auctioned. So while you still have a chance, get on out to Seasons, check out Fred’s work, and make a bid. The silent auction ends April 18th and 100% of the proceeds go to support Music For Everyone’s programs.
Tickets are on Sale for this year’s Warehouse Wandering!
If you went last year you know that this is one of the coolest parties in town. Thanks to Box Co. Flats, Misse Candies, and Annex 24, The Warehouse Wandering is returning!
Join Music For Everyone and Box Company Flats on May 30th, from 6-10pm, in celebrating Art and Music. Wander through a converted Lancaster warehouse for an evening like no other! Experience spectacular live music, delicious hors d’oeuvres, exquisite beverages, and EXCLUSIVE artwork from some of Lancaster’s finest artists!!
TICKETS ARE ON SALE! SPACE IS LIMITED!
(Payment is required at time of RSVP)
Music will be provided by:
The Grabowski Jazz Quintet
hudson k
Portal Percussion Group
Ben & Joe
Art will be available for sale by:
Loryn Spangler-Jones
George Mummert
Jaye Crist
Kenneth Reisig
Space is limited and filling up quickly! Only $75/person gets you into this one of a kind event!
AGAIN, TICKETS GO ON SALE ON MARCH 30TH! Don’t miss out, there are limited tickets to this event!
Order Online: http://bit.ly/1C1HiHo
Payment to:
Music For Everyone
42 North Prince Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
Credit Card or Check (Payable to MFE) accepted
MFE Executive Director (John Gerdy) Receives Central Penn Business Journal Nonprofit Innovation Award for Leadership Excellence!
Harrisburg, PA (March 12, 2015) – Nine local nonprofits were awarded grants at the 16th annual Nonprofit Innovation Awards breakfast event held on Monday, March 9, 2015, at the Hilton Harrisburg.
“Rarely do nonprofits in our communities get the recognition they deserve, Not just the vital economic role they play but, most importantly, for the network of support to those who are in need and less fortunate, for making available the beauty of music, theater and the arts, and for providing the resources and assistance to prepare our region for challenges, growth and change,” said
Dave Schankweiler, CEO of Journal Multimedia, parent company to the Central Penn Business Journal, who served as the event emcee.
Nine of the 35 finalists received grants from the three community foundations representing the Capital Region, Lancaster and York. In the categories of marketing, collaboration, operations and programming, the winner was awarded $2,000 and the runner-up was awarded $1,000. [A full list of the winners, runners-up, and finalist follows at the end of this release.]
John Gerdy, Founder & Executive Director of Music For Everyone, Lancaster County won the Nonprofit Leadership Excellence Award, taking home a $1,000 check for the organization.
The 2015 Nonprofit Innovation Awards are made possible by a partnership of the Central Penn Business Journal, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), the Lancaster County Community Foundation and the York County Community Foundation. The presenting sponsor of the program is Highmark Blue Shield. Other program sponsors include: Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz; Metro Bank; Philadelphia Insurance Companies; Temple University Harrisburg; Comcast Business; Engle Printing & Publishing Co. Inc. and Harsco Corporation.
For more information about these special awards, visit www.CPBJ.com/events
Nonprofit Leadership Excellence Category This category identifies and recognizes an exemplary nonprofit leader whose accomplishments have advanced his/her organization and field of service.
WINNER: John Gerdy, Founder & Executive Director, Lancaster
FINALISTS:
Kathleen Bentley, Executive Director, Perry County Literacy Council, Perry
Daniel Bentancourt, President & CEO, Community First Fund, Lancaster
Louis Castriota, Jr., President & CEO, Leg Up Farm,
Jonathan Hollinger, CEO, Excentia, Lancaster
Sonia Huntzinger, Executive Director, Downtown Inc, York
Barry Ramper, President & CEO, Homeland Center, Dauphin
Elaine Strokoff, Executive Director, Downtown Daily Bread, Dauphin
MFE & The Willie Marble Xperience Tellus360 Concert Series “Swampadelic Meets Classical”!
Music For Everyone has joined forces with The mysteriously swampadelic Willie Marble Xperience and Tellus360 in a concert series to benefit Lancaster non-profit organizations. This month’s concert will benefit Allegro and be held on April 16th! Rumor has it that several Allegro musicians will be sitting in with the Xperience. Consider it the junction of Swampadelic and Classical. And word on the street is that it will be recorded LIVE!
Doors will be at 7:00pm and the show will begin at 8:00pm. The event is for ages 21+ and admission is a suggested donation of $10.
The MFE Singer Songwriter Showcase Continues!
MFE will host a singer-songwriter showcase/contest on the third Wednesday of every month at Tellus360. Each month a singer songwriter will be showcased. The four artists who bring in the largest audience during their show will have the opportunity to perform at the October showcase finale, which is also a benefit for MFE! So get on down to Tellus360 and support your favorite local songwriter for the MFE Singer-Songwriter nights!
The Schedule for the Singer Songwriter Nights:
April 15 — Jessica Smucker
May 20 — Olds Sleeper
June 17 — Jean Synodinos
July 15 — Corty Byron
August 19 — Dave Lefever
September 16 — Steve Chambers
October 14 — Sing-off
Come support local music at its roots and have a great time while doing so!
Music For Everyone Approved to Receive Funds from the EITC!!
MFE has a great opportunity for businesses to both contribute funds to MFE and receive a tax credit at the same time. How you ask? Through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit or EITC! This credit allows a business to pledge funds to a nonprofit educational organization and deduct 75-90% of that contribution as a tax credit. For example, if your business were to pledge $10,000 for two years to MFE, the business could write off $9,000 of that donation! That is a $10,000 donation that only costs $1,000! Think about how many instruments we could provide to schools in Lancaster County, while allowing your business to benefit from the tax credit! If you would like more information, please contact Brendan at MFELancaster@gmail.com.
Reminder: Ukulele Uprising
Come join the MFE Ukulele Uprising on Tuesday evenings at the Vision Corps building at 244 N. Queen St. All are welcome to this community building initiative.
Monthly Music Download
This month’s music download is from the MFE CD sampler Vol. I. Robin Chambers is our featured artist of the month, with her tune, “My Own Way”. Download and enjoy!
Until next time Lancaster, play on!