Milestones for Music Campaign
Milestones for Music Campaign
Celebrating 50 Years of Impactful Arts and Music
Celebrating 50 years of artistic excellence and community engagement, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra has launched its Milestones for Music campaign, to benefit the orchestra and its home, the Reilly Arts Center. After a decade of historic growth and expansion in both facilities and programming, this initiative will help to preserve the orchestra and its home as a strong community asset for generations to come.
This comprehensive, multi-year campaign aims to secure a strong future for the organization and its programs. Your contribution will support the organization in four priority areas: achieving financial sustainability, strengthening musical & artistic excellence, expanding education and community engagement programs, and enhancing the Ocala Metro’s cultural arts scene
Campaign Priorities
Your partnership will ensure that the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and its home, the Reilly Arts Center, continues to inspire, educate, and connect our community with the arts for generations to come.
Strengthening Musical & Artistic Excellence – The Reilly Arts Center is dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for our patrons. Led by Music Director and Conductor, Matt Wardell, the Ocala Symphony maintains a commitment to retain top regional talent, engage diverse guest soloists, and elevate the quality and variety of our performances.
Expanding Education and Community Engagement – We will continue breaking barriers to music education by offering scholarships and expanding opportunities at the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s Community Music Conservatory. Increasing access to live performances is also at the heart of our mission. We will increase access through open rehearsals, free performances, and strengthening our partnerships with local arts groups, nonprofits and schools.
Achieving Financial Sustainability – With ticket sales covering just 50% of operating expenses, your philanthropic support ensures the organization has stable operational funding, reserves to weather future challenges, and a strong endowment to support the orchestra for years to come.
Enhancing the Ocala Metro’s Cultural Arts Scene – The campaign will help support and amplify efforts to inspire and engage people from many backgrounds with a diverse array of programming and experiences and cross genres, engage top talent, and position Ocala as a regional arts destination.
Leadership Committee
We are grateful to these community leaders for serving as ambassadors for the Milestones for Music Campaign in the community. Through their gifts of time, expertise, and resources they are leading the charge and inspiring others to get involved.
Beth McCall (Chair)
Erin Buss
Frank & Angela DeLuca
Gerald Ergle
Tom Ingram
R.J. Jenkins
Pete Lee
Angie Lewis
David Midgett
Sonya Nasser
Bob Reilly Honorary
Rebecca Rogers
David Treitel
Cindy VanHyde
David Velez
Chester Weber
Name a Seat
Support the Reilly Arts Center or the Marion Theatre
Honor a loved one, celebrate a milestone, or simply share your love of the arts. Through the Milestones for Music Campaign, now you can join others who have named a seat at the Reilly Arts Center or the Marion Theatre. Leave a lasting impression in spaces where Ocala gathers for music and memories.
Donation Levels:
Marion Theatre – $500 any location
Reilly Arts Center – $500 (balcony) or $1,000 (main floor) donation
Support these incredible spaces now, while investing in the future. Half of your gift will directly support venue operations, while the other half will be reserved for future facility needs and improvements.
How it Works:
1. Select which venue you’d like to support from the link below.
2. Complete the custom donation form to make your gift online, including your requested text (24 characters per line, up to two lines of text) and any preference on seat location.
3. You’ll receive an email confirmation with your gift.
4. Staff will be in touch with any questions, along with an update when your plaque has been installed in the venue.
Reilly Arts Center Marion Theatre
Please note that we cannot guarantee a particular seat is available for naming, and once a plaque is installed it cannot be moved. Naming a seat does not guarantee that the seat will be available when purchasing concert tickets or a season subscription. If you’d like to inquire about availability before making your gift, or to make your gift over the phone or by mail, please contact us at 352-351-1606. ext. 107.
Support
You can support the Milestones for Music Campaign in a variety of ways to achieve your gift planning goals and impact the organization for years to come. Gifts can be made in full, or in installments over a term of several years. You can also consider the tax advantages of giving:
- Appreciated securities
- Giving through a Donor Advised Fund
- Making a charitable distribution from your IRA
- Utilizing one of the many other types of planned giving vehicles.
Increase your Annual Giving Support
Consider increasing your annual gift or Reilly Arts Center membership during the campaign. Multi-year commitments will allow the organization to have sustainable funding and be better prepared for changing economic conditions.
Support the Reilly Arts Center through a Building Naming Opportunity
A number of impactful spaces are still available that would provide recognition opportunities for you, your family, or your business. These spaces are available for five year naming rights or in perpetuity with a gift to the Ocala Symphony’s Endowment Fund. Spaces include the heritage lobby, balcony, east and north terraces, north or south gallery, box office, green room, music library and sound booth.
Name a Chair or Position in the Orchestra
Honoring major positions within the orchestra is a meaningful way to support the music and musicians you enjoy. A named chair can honor a loved one, mentor, or create a family legacy. Positions can be named for a term of five-years with the opportunity to renew, or fully endowed in perpetuity through a gift to the Ocala Symphony Orchestra Endowment.
Positions currently available for naming as the Music Director, Concertmaster, Music Librarian, and available principal chair positions, including: Violin II, Viola, Bass, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion, Harp, Piano Unavailable (already named): Assistant Concertmaster, Cello, Trumpet
Support Music Education and Community Outreach
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s Community Music Conservatory provides quality, accessible music education for all, serving more than 125 students weekly. Gift can be made to the scholarship fund, for students with financial need, or for general operations. Donors can also select to give to the Adam Hanson Bringing Music to the Community Fund, which supports community outreach and educational opportunities led by the Ocala symphony Orchestra. Click here to learn more about these opportunities.
Join the Legacy Circle
There are a variety of ways you can include the Ocala Symphony in your estate plans to achieve your own personal, financial, and philanthropic goals. When you make your intentions known, you will be recognized as a part of the Legacy Circle. In pledging support that extends beyond your lifetime, you are inspiring others to follow in your footsteps and in many cases having a large impact with your future support. Click here to learn more about planned giving. (link goes to Legacy Giving page)
Help us preserve the orchestra and its home as a strong community asset for generations to come.
Contact:
Natalie McComb, CFRE
Executive Director
Email: natalie@reillyartscenter.com
Phone: (352) 351-1606 ext. 102