| |
Telephone: (406) 585-9551
Postal Address:
PO Box 1872
Bozeman, MT 59771-1872
FAX: Please contact MASO for our fax number.
E-mail address: info @ montanasymphonies.org
When e-mailing us, please remove the spaces from the address. This formatting is to prevent spam bots from filling our inbox with junk mail, ensuring that your messages are received and read.
MASO's History
The Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras (MASO) was formed in 1981 by a steering committee composed of representatives from six symphonies (Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula). Glacier Orchestra and Chorale, Kalispell, joined in 1984 followed by the Miles City Community Orchestra in 1985. MASO’s mission is to promote, encourage, and assist in the maintenance and development of quality musical programs throughout the state of Montana.
MASO is a statewide coalition of seven orchestras, each with up to four members on the board of directors which meets at least three times each year. A separate planning meeting of music directors from each symphony also takes place once every year. An associate membership level provides some benefits for small orchestras, but does not require attendance at meetings.
Since its inception, MASO has established a number of mission-related programs to promote the exchange of ideas and resources among its member organizations and to encourage and develop music programs, careers, and educational services:
· A statewide catalog of instrumental and orchestral sheet music facilitates and a music exchange program that allow symphonies to save the considerable cost of score rental or purchase.
· As part of Montana’s Centennial, MASO sponsored a Composition Competition to recognize regional composers and to encourage support for their music.
· In 1991 MASO established the Young Artist Competition (YAC) to recognize young talent in the state and provide opportunity for winners to publicly perform with member orchestras. Music directors also meet annually to block-book guest artists and reduce costs.
· From 1987 through 1994, MASO conducted five leadership training conferences open to all non-profit organizations and their volunteers in Montana.
· MASO hosted the Washington, DC, National Symphony Orchestra’s fourth state residency in 1996, with outreach activities in thirty-five Montana communities.
· As an outgrowth of the National Symphony residency, MASO began supporting member symphony rural educational oureach projects.
With support from the Montana Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Montana’s Cultural Trust, MASO is proud to be a statewide coalition that enhances the cultural climate of Montana. In fulfilling this mission, from 1997 MASO cooperated with The Montana Power Company/Touch America and then NorthWestern Energy for the final performance in 2002 to produce the Montana Summer Symphony in Helena. Television broadcasts of this high-quality performance are carried on Montana Public Television and later broadcast on PBS nationally to a peak audience of nearly 45 million in 2001.
|
