Film screening helps raise money for Syracuse Symphony Orchestra
The Syracuse International Film Festival held a movie screening Sunday afternoon in an effort to prevent the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra from ending its season four months early.
‘One from the Heart,’ a love story featuring an eclectic blend of music and backstory, was shown Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. in the Palace Theater on James Street in Syracuse. SYRFILMFEST officials agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds to the SSO, which must raise $445,000 by March 4 after already meeting its first fundraising goal of $375,000 earlier this month.
The success of the SYRFILMFEST fundraiser was unable to be determined by presale ticket numbers, but a large portion of overall ticket sales were expected to come from the door, said Christine Fawcett-Shapiro, managing director of SYRFILMFEST, on Friday. She could not be reached Sunday night to comment on how many tickets were sold.
Tickets for the film screening cost $10, but viewers could also purchase a $20 ticket to enjoy champagne and dessert provided by local businesses, according to a Feb. 8 SU News Services release about the event.
While Syracuse residents have been ‘very receptive’ to fundraising efforts, Fawcett-Shapiro stressed the need to create effective, long-term solutions to cope with the budget shortfall. Art groups in Syracuse are collaborating in an effort to stave off program cuts, she said Friday.
‘We really believe the arts in Syracuse is tremendously important,’ Fawcett-Shapiro said.
Andrew Waggoner, associate professor and co-director in the Setnor School of Music, said he is not aware of any ongoing effort by Syracuse University to fundraise for the SSO. But Waggoner said Setnor students have begun to mobilize and contribute in a grassroots fundraising effort.
SU’s Music Educators National Conference launched a can and bottle recycling drive last week. Meghan O’Keefe, a freshman music education major in Setnor and a member of the conference, said the effort has raised $55.
Considering each bottle is worth only 5 cents, O’Keefe said the drive has been going well in its preliminary stages. She hopes to raise awareness about SSO’s financial troubles and expand the fundraising efforts outside Setnor to all of campus.
‘It’s really sad they came into this trouble, but it’s happening to a lot of small orchestras like the SSO around the country,’ O’Keefe said.
O’Keefe said she applauds SYRFILMFEST for undertaking fundraising efforts.
‘I’m glad more than the music students are trying to raise money for the SSO,’ she said.
David Carpenter, a sophomore saxophone performance major in Setnor and regular attendee of SSO performances, said he sympathized with the financial struggles faced by the institution.
‘I think it’s going to be an ongoing pattern,’ Carpenter said. ‘Every little bit helps. It’s an awful lot of money they’re going to need.’
Juliette Sabbah, a first-year graduate student studying piano performance in Setnor, echoed Carpenter’s sentiments.
‘If it closes, I would be really sad for classical music,’ she said.
Though financial donations are needed, Sabbah said the declining interest in classical music factors significantly into the budget crisis. She also said increased attendance at symphony orchestra performances is important.
She said: ‘I don’t know a lot of students besides the music students who go regularly there.’
Published on February 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Contact Debbie: dbtruong@syr.edu | @debbietruong
