Two Grants Help Aspiring Musicians and Support Volunteers

The San Luis Obispo Symphony receives grants from Community Foundation’s Art Inspires! and Holser Education Funds to support beginning musicians and Symphony volunteer programs
The San Luis Obispo Symphony has received two grants from the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation (SLOCCF) totaling $8,800.
One grant, in the amount of $4,500, comes from the Holser Education Fund for the Performing Arts. This grant will be used to provide need-based scholarships to 40 of the 75 children currently enrolled in the Symphony’s “Strings in the Schools” program. One of seven arts organizations funded, the Symphony was selected to receive this generous grant because of their extensive music education programs, serving grades 3-12, that allow young people to experience and participate in performing arts education contributing to the cultural development of the community. This year’s grant-making program, which awarded a total of $27,750.00, is made possible through a generous endowment established by Clifford Holser.
The Symphony also received a $4,300 grant from SLOCCF’s Arts Inspires! Fund that will be used to continue the development of a volunteer management initiative at the Symphony. This initiative allows both staff and board members to use their time more effectively. The new Symphony Volunteer Association is called “I’m with the Band!” and is currently seeking volunteer members. Art Inspires! Grants, this year totaling more than $25,000 awarded to six arts organizations, are made possible through the generous support of the William Randolph Hearst Fund for the Arts.
“We feel honored and grateful to have been selected to receive these generous grants,” said SLO Symphony Executive Director Sandi Sigurdson. “Our educational programs are vital to young musicians, and we just couldn’t do what we do without our dedicated volunteers!”