Needs
New music commissions, including those that assist us in our youth outreach efforts: One mission of the Sacramento Master Singers is to present world class concerts that engage and inspire, performance of diverse repertoire and providing opportunities for singer growth. Newly commissioned literature is a significant feature of top-notch choirs internationally including Chanticleer, Conspirare and Voces8, and would satisfy each element of our mission mentioned above. A commission fee is based on multiple attributes: the length of the work, number of performers, the budget of the commissioning party, and, most notably, the composer's reputation. Commission fees for a 5-minute, a cappella choral piece by a composer of Eric Whitacre's stature would cost in the region of $15,000-25,000. A piece by a noted composer would garner great attention, excitement, and media attention within our region.
SMS operates remotely without a physical office. This requires our Patron Services Coordinator and Board Members to take multiple trips to the Post Office Box and storage unit each week and means that our goods are scattered in various locations including members' homes and car trunks, and expensive storage lockers. In addition, board meetings are held at residences or professional offices of the members. A physical office space would allow us to eliminate multiple trips, receive our mail daily, store our equipment in one location, and for board and staff to meet and work simultaneously, which in turn would improve our efficiency. An office space with a private exterior door, dedicated parking spaces and, possibly, including wifi and an alarm system, would be hugely beneficial and cost in the region of $1200-2000 per month.
Recording space, rehearsal & performance venue hire, hiring instrumentalists & other guest soloists: Hiring recording, rehearsal and performance venues would greatly benefit the quality of performances we can offer. Rehearsal and performance venues vary a great deal, but costs for 3 rehearsals, 1-2 recording sessions, and 2 performances in a venue such as Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom would cost in the range of $6,000-12,000. An orchestra of 24 string players, if hired for 3 rehearsals and 2 performances, costs between $16,000-24,000. A smaller ensemble, such as a brass quartet or string quartet, would require funding of $4,000-5,000. A guest vocal or instrumental soloist may cost between $500-2,500. Professionally recorded pieces and concerts ($4000-7500) would be used in grant applications, marketing, and CD sales.
Guest conductor/clinician & outreach to youth: Simultaneously piquing the interest of audiences by presenting fresh takes on choral pieces as well as challenging SMS and youthful singers could be accomplished by the hire of a guest conductor. Five rehearsals and two performances, choral clinics in area high schools, air fares, hotels and meals for a guest director from outside of California would cost in the range of $12,000-17,000. Outreach to youth, by inviting youth choruses to be members of the performing ensemble and holding clinics in their high schools by the guest conductor/clinician, would allow this idea serve multiple points of our mission.
Combining outreach to area youth with the desire to present engaging and inspiring concerts via choral music is possible if the lyrics or poetry for a commissioned piece utilizes the word of teenage authors and poets such as the writers of 916 Ink, a hugely successful nonprofit in Sacramento, CA. Commission fees for a 10+ multi-movement piece would cost in the region of $14,000-30,000. The addition of instrumentalists, guest youth choirs, and special guest soloists would increase the price by $6,000-12,000. 916 Ink has already been approached and is interested in this project, if funded.
Personnel to create & execute a media campaign via various media: Our efforts to draw in audiences to hear exceptional music would be greatly enhanced by assistance by marketing experts, professional photographer(s) and videographer(s). Marketing professional(s) to plan and execute a marketing campaign would charge $4,000-7,000. A photographer could be hired for $1,500-4,500 to provide a CD of hi-res photos for use in programs, ads, marketing and online publicity campaigns. A videographer to record and edit performances of individual pieces for use in publicity and grant applications would cost in the region of $1,500-4,500. A video project that includes settings other than a studio, concept and editing would cost in the range of $4000-7,500.