This past Friday, RCSE met at SEDA to hear a presentation from Dr. Amy Williams with the Savannah Philharmonic. Before Amy spoke, the club recognized two members who received awards from The Rotary Foundation. Wade Herring received a Paul Harris Fellow +2 pin and Tom Stanley was recognized for his gift to The Rotary Foundation Endowment Fund. Once all Rotary Business items were discussed, Cheri Dean introduced Dr. Williams.
Amy began by saying the Savannah Philharmonic is a community focused arts organization. Programming is intentionally designed for all residents across our region which is evident by an array of musical genres that are played. The team is made up of six full team staff, 70 paid orchestra musicians, 85 volunteer chorus members, and 7 paid teaching artists. Community programming is a huge part of the Savannah Philharmonic and is showcased through the programs "Phil the Neighborhood" and "Phil the Park."
Another important aspect is Educational Programming. The Savannah Philharmonic partners with area music teachers and invites students to attend open rehearsals where they can sit on stage with the musicians. Every guest artist is required to visit schools or community centers while they are in Savannah. Part of their Educational Programming is a hands on program where 300 students have weekly or monthly instruction with an instrument. The instruments are provided free of charge and the program runs year round. They have also made student tickets to events $8 because they do not want cost to be a hinderance for attendance. 70% of their income is derived from donations, sponsorships, and grants. To learn more about the Savannah Philharmonic please visit https://savannahphilharmonic.org/