A Grand History III
Concord Chamber Orchestra - A Grand History
Looking Back
1976-1977 - The
Early Days
1977-1982 -
Growth & Expansion
1982-1984 - The Vision Widens
The Success-Builders
THE SUCCESS-BUILDERS
While a dedicated board, committed musicians, and lots of external
support were all key components for breathing life into SMCO in
those years, there are times when the ultimate success of a venture
like this rested on certain individuals. From my vantage point
Concord had two people whose individual generosity, vision and hard
work did more than anything else to secure a future for
SMCO/Concord. Those people were David Nelson and Ann Siverling.
Violinist David Nelson, an attorney for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, brought to the organization a unique combination of musical knowledge and skills and administrative acumen. Musically, David was the rudder that guided many of my repertoire choices, since his orchestral experience as a serious non-professional had exposed him to a wide array of music. He knew the pieces that could send an amateur string section crashing into the rocks and helped me avoid them. Administratively, he was the first person I thought of in naming our first board of directors. And, not surprisingly, he was the board's unanimous choice to lead the orchestra forward as its first president. It also has to be said that his personal generosity kept the orchestra financially afloat at some very critical times. And - at other times - that same generosity enabled us to do some things which otherwise might never have been possible.
Ann Siverling, who would eventually become an arts administrator for several of Milwaukee's most successful arts groups, found what I think was probably her first outlet in that direction with Concord. For four years, Ann devoted heart and soul, day and night, raising thousands of dollars through personal fund-raising and selling hundreds of tickets to concerts. Her artistic skills provided us with beautiful posters and program covers. To raise funds on one occasion, she even created, had printed and then individually hand-illuminated holiday greeting cards for the group to sell. And this was all at her expense so that all the proceeds would flow to the orchestra. She even ferried musicians with out transportation to and from rehearsals. It's also a fair bet that she probably wore out two automobiles running around the city getting things done for us. She was an absolute dynamo. Simply put, the debt Concord and I owe to Ann can never be repaid.
Looking back on it all now, I see the size or importance of my own contribution in lesser and lesser terms as I have come to realize how much the success of a venture like the Concord Chamber Orchestra really depends on the willingness of many people at many levels to contribute thousands of hours of their time toward a common goal. If I played any kind of role in the group's early successes it may have been because I saw a need in the community, added equal parts of vision and sweat-equity to fill the need, tossing into the mix a lot of encouragement along with my own commitment to be there to see it through, come what may.
But I will always know that there were many times I couldn't have gone on without the close friendships and associations I had with many people who shared the same dreams I had for Concord. In addition to all the names mentioned above I think of (in no particular order) Gail Hempel Nelson, Ken Wollberg, Dick Zanoni, Bruce Guetzkow, James Dean, Lynn Parrish, Kelly Callahan, Dottie Pralle, Lori Odermann, Juanita Schreck, Mary Stuckert, Carol Shiraga, Carole White, Arthur Norris, Pat Badger, Pat Backus, Dick Zanoni, Audrey Baird, Rene Miller, and Frank Hertzberg. (My apologies to any others whose names haven't come to mind in this quick recounting.)
I must confess a certain pride in the role I played in helping create an organization which still exists after twenty-five years. Its longevity and continued strength is ample evidence of the mission it continues to fulfill in the life of Milwaukee's music community. Under the leadership of its brilliant leader, Janet Millard, its future surely seems secure.
