SoNA / Courtesy
The future of the symphony in the northwest Arkansas region is sound.
That’s thanks in part to the news that the endowment for local organization, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, recently reached $1 million.
The organization announced the milestone in a press release issued late last week.
“We are deeply grateful to the generous donors who have made this milestone possible,” said SoNA Executive Director Matthew Herren. A”n endowment is essential to a healthy nonprofit, and we are fortunate to have built a fund which will provide stability and continue to grow as we grow, building on and extending our reach into more and more Northwest Arkansas communities.”
The organization raised $400,000 through its Maestro Circle Fund, and an additional $600,000 has accumulated it its unrestricted General Investment Fund, Herren said.
The organization has also embarked on creating a revised strategic plan, with the help of consultant Alan Brown of San Francisco-based organization, WolfBrown.
Brown, along with SoNA leadershop, will examine the symphony’s existing programs, with a goal to help SoNA recognize new opportunities in the region.
SoNA, currently under the baton of Maestro Paul Haas, currently performs around seven concerts each season at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville along with a 4th of July concert at the Walmart AMP in Rogers. SoNA also conducts its ImagiMusic interactive arts-integration program, reaching around 800 students in eight area elementary schools.
The organization says it hopes to increase the endowment by an additional $3-4 million over the next three years to bring “more music to more NWA communities” in the future.
