PATRICIA C. SYAK | Symphony notes Center expansion benefits community

The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Center were an essential part of cultural tourism, economic development, revitalization of the metropolitan area, the educational system and the community's visibility and vitality during the 2002-03 year.
The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra under Music Director Isaiah Jackson presented 18 concerts -- seven Masterworks and four Pops subscription concerts; four school release concerts; a special event concert with Olivia Newton-John and community concerts at Cafaro Field and Westminster College.
To increase orchestra overall ticket sales, the Youngstown Symphony Society embarked on a marketing campaign to educate potential patrons about the orchestra, support the effort to sell season tickets to previous season ticket holders and transform individual ticket buyers to season ticket subscribers. This season, more than 20,350 people attended Youngstown Symphony Orchestra concerts -- up 23 percent from the previous season.
Insight into composers and their music was provided before each Masterworks concert by Dr. Theodore Albrecht who also assisted the Society in launching the season ticket campaign.
An orchestra season of many highlights was further enhanced with the live recording of the Dec. 7, 2002, concert with the Joe Augustine Quartet. The recording marks the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra's first venture into the commercial recording market.
Entertainment options were varied with Society-sponsored events and theater rentals. National touring production of Western Theatre Opera's "La Boheme" and musicals "Fosse," "The Music Man" and "Saturday Night Fever" were presented by the Society. Also, 44 performances by national promoters and regional art organizations visited Powers Auditorium. Together, these performances brought 60,945 residents to downtown Youngstown.
To assist patrons in securing tickets to Symphony Center events, including Youngstown Symphony Orchestra concerts, the Society initiated online ticketing services in September 2002. Online ticketing is gaining ground and will likely increase in the years to come.
Through creative educational programming, the Society instills an appreciation for music while assisting children to develop life-long skills. Storytyme, an imaginative interactive program for day care through first grade, was presented by soloist Sally Williams and double bassist Jeffrey Bremer before 1,607 children at 35 community sites. The 96 Storytyme performances were sponsored by the Schwebel Baking Company.
Music education
More than 8,980 students and teachers from 85 Ohio and Pennsylvania schools attended Young People's Concerts sponsored by the Women's Committee for Children's Concerts at Powers Auditorium with Isaiah Jackson and guitarist Phil Keaggy. Additionally, 175 students participated in the juried art exhibit held in conjunction with the concerts.
Education took another dimension when students had the opportunity to participate as players or engage with the musicians. The 87-member Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra under the direction of Stephen Gage and assisted by Richard Smrek presented concerts at Powers Auditorium and before the Ohio Music Educators Association convention in Cleveland during the season. The 63-member Youngstown Symphony Symphonettes presented two concerts at Powers Auditorium. Youngstown Symphony Orchestra guest artist Bradford Marsalis addressed Dana School of Music students.
Community relations
An important part of the Society's mission is to be engaged with the community. During the year, musical therapy sessions were presented by Sally Williams and Jeffrey Bremer weekly at Tod Children's Hospital Behavioral Center and monthly in the medical and surgical units of the Children's Hospital.
Work to restore the Symphony Center fa & ccedil;ade to its original design was completed and dedicated Nov. 21, 2002. The fa & ccedil;ade restoration project marked the first time in more than two decades when an architectural artifact obscured for so many years was uncovered and reconstructed so thoroughly.
The Adler Art Academy project to remodel storefront spaces at Symphony Center to house the Arts Council of Youngstown and Mahoning County and the Youngstown State University SMARTS classroom and offices are slated for completion in August. This $700,553 project assists in the stabilization of the Federal Plaza West corridor.
The Society advances the economic growth of the region. Employees of the Youngstown Symphony Society paid taxes on their earnings totaling $12,600 to the city of Youngstown, $10,000 to the state of Ohio and $80,000 to the federal government. Using economic multipliers from The Avenue of the Arts Economic Impact Analysis, the Society generated 80 additional jobs outside the Youngstown Symphony Society as a direct result of Society activities and $522,000 in additional income to the area.
The work of the Youngstown Symphony Society is advanced through the generous financial support of area residents, corporations, foundations and the public sector to the Society's Annual Growth Fund, Special Event and Concert Underwriting program, and Capital Campaign along with countless hours provided by community volunteers.
XPatricia C. Syak is executive director of the Youngstown Symphony Society.