News Release
$10,000 Challenge Gift Marks 10th Anniversary of the Cape Cod Symphony
Orchestra’s Music Education Programs
Matching Donors Are Invited to Join in Providing Outstanding Music Learning
Opportunities to Cape Cod Children and Youth
YARMOUTH PORT, MA—October 22, 2009
The Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra (CCSO) has announced that supporter, subscriber and
trustee, Charlotte Frye of East Orleans, has made a generous challenge donation of $10,000 to
benefit the organization’s music education programs. This gives contributors who share her
passion for making classical music accessible to young people a unique opportunity to maximize
the impact of their donation.
“As former chair of the CCSO’s education committee, I understand the value the MusicWorks!
education programs have brought to the Cape Cod community since their debut 10 years ago,”
says Frye. “At a time when school systems are cutting back on their arts education budgets, it is
all the more important to support programs like these that stimulate an interest in music and make
it a life-long experience for students. I challenge others to join me in raising an additional
$10,000—for a total of $20,000—to further this very important cause. As part of its Annual Fund
appeal, the CCSO gratefully receives donations that go toward its general operating expenses,
but this effort is special in that it is targeted exclusively to education.”
The terms of the challenge stipulate that Frye’s gift be matched dollar for dollar up to a total of
$10,000 and that the funds received be restricted for use by the MusicWorks! education programs
during the current 2009/10 season.
Donations counting toward the match must be new donations, which are defined as additional
gifts from current contributors or new donations from new contributors. For example, if a donor
gave $1,000 last year to support education and the same donor gives $1,500 this year, $500 will
be counted toward the $10,000 challenge. New donations to support education will also be
counted in the match. To qualify for the challenge, donations must be received by May 31, 2010.
Among the many programs and projects that the challenge will help to support are MusicWorks!
Everyday and Lesson Plans for the Classics. The former is a non-directed music listening
program for students in K-8 that is currently being used by 22 out of 44 eligible schools on Cape
Cod from Falmouth to Truro. Participating students spend the first five minutes of every school
day listening to classical music over the PA system, thus increasing their knowledge of
composers and instrument sounds and nurturing an appreciation for great music. The latter are
customized multi-media lesson plans for high school students that correspond with one of the
major pieces being performed at selected CCSO Classics concerts. These lessons link history or
literature, music, and a field trip to hear a live performance.
“Our goal with these and all of our programs and projects is to reach as many children and youth
on Cape Cod as possible,” says George Scharr, the CCSO’s director of education. “Each year we
must raise the full amount needed to support the education expenses for that year. This season
our target is $147,000. The challenge gift offered by our friend and benefactor, Charlotte Frye, will
play a big role in helping us achieve our goal. What a great way to celebrate MusicWorks! 10th
anniversary!”
To meet the challenge and make a gift to support the 2009/0 Education Programs, give online at
www.capesymphony.org, call 508.362.1185 ext. 101 or send a check to CCSO, 712 A Main
Street, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675. To make giving easy, we can set up monthly charges to your
credit card, including installment payments in any frequency.
CCSO Contacts:
Pamela Morrill, Director of Development
508.362.1185, ext. 101; pmorrill@capesymphony.org
George Scharr, Director of Education
508.362.1185, ext. 102; gscharr@capesymphony.org
Esther Owen, Director of Marketing
508.362.1185, ext. 106; eowen@capesymphony.org
Donor Profile: Charlotte Frye
A full-time resident of Cape Cod since 2005, Charlotte Frye is a Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra
supporter, subscriber, trustee and past chair of the education committee who grew up with what
she describes as “lucky parents.” Her mother and father loved classical music and wanted her to
love it, too, so they took her to the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s children’s concerts and
exposed her to live performances at a very young age.
After graduating from Lasell Junior College and later Boston University, she moved to New York
City where she lived for 35 years and worked in a variety of settings ranging from real estate and
office management to development, volunteer program management, and magazine production.
She also had leadership roles in associations focused on educating directors of volunteers, and
chaired important initiatives in her cooperative apartment building and church.
All the while, Charlotte pursued her love of classical music, opera, and ballet—making frequent
visits to Lincoln Center. In addition, she has experienced performances in all of those forms in
Boston, San Francisco, Paris, London, Vienna, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and elsewhere in
Europe. She is now thrilled to be a part of the Cape Cod community and its fabulous symphony
orchestra.
About the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra
The Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra is one of the largest professional orchestras in
Massachusetts. With a reputation for blending innovation with accessibility, the Cape Cod
Symphony Orchestra combines a polished, professional standing ensemble with world-class
soloists and featured artists in compelling programs that have entertained and inspired both Cape
Cod residents and vacationers for nearly 50 years. For additional information, visit
www.capesymphony.org.