Music In The Mountains Inc

TO PRODUCE AN EXCEPTIONAL SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH MUSICIANS OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER, ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE AND DELIGHT AUDIENCES WITH THE RICHNESS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC, AND COMPLEMENT THE CONCERTS WITH A YEAR ROUND EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR YOUTH.

MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS APPROACHED THE 2022 FESTIVAL SEASON WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF CONFIDENCE FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE 2021 SEASON. WHILE COVID-19 WASNT QUITE BEHIND US, 35 OF 37 PLANNED EVENTS WERE EXECUTED DURING THE 24-DAY EVENT. WE CONTINUED TO OFFER OUR POPULAR FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES ON TOP OF OUR PRE-PANDEMIC THREE-WEEK ORCHESTRAL SEASON, MAKING THE FESTIVAL FOUR WEEKS LONG FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR 36-YEAR HISTORY. FOLLOWING ARE FY 2022 OPERATIONS NOTES:MANAGEMENT CONTINUED TO CONCENTRATE ON BOTH MANAGING EXPENSES AND MAINTAINING STRONG DONOR RELATIONSHIPS. THE LOCAL (AND NATIONAL) LABOR SHORTAGE/CRISIS IS REAL AND IMPACTED MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS OPERATIONS SEVERELY. THIS SEASON WE HAD SEVERAL NEW CONTRACTORS AND EMPLOYEES: PIANO TUNER, STAGE MANAGER, OPERATIONS MANAGER (2), GRAPHIC DESIGNER, POPS DECORATIONS COORDINATOR (2), FESTIVAL ASSISTANT (2), AND SUMMER INTERN. MUCH TIME AND ENERGY WERE SPENT IN RECRUITING, HIRING, AND TRAINING. ALMOST FOUR MONTHS OF THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR WAS MANAGED WITH ONLY ONE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT TEN YEARS, MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS INCREASED TICKET PRICES. CONSIDERING THE INCREASED COSTS/HIGH INFLATION WE HAD NO CHOICE AND PATRONS SEEMED TO BE (MOSTLY) SUPPORTIVE. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, GREGORY HUSTIS, RETIRED FROM THE ORGANIZATION AFTER 35 YEARS OF EXCELLENT SERVICE. THE STRATEGIC DECISION WAS MADE TO CONSOLIDATE THE ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP POSITIONS FOLLOWING HUSTIS RETIREMENT, AND GUILLERMO FIGUEROA, WHO HAS BEEN OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR SINCE 2007, WILL ASSUME THE ADDITIONAL ROLE OF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR IN 2023. THIS WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL SAVINGS. IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE STILL RECOVERING AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SPONSOR AT PAST LEVELS. THE LODGING SITUATION IN DURANGO CONTINUES TO BE CHALLENGING. THE ORGANIZATION IS TASKED WITH FINDING ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR ALL MUSICIANS - AND IN MANY CASES THEIR FAMILIES - AND THE COST/NIGHT IN DURANGO HAS RISEN TO DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS IN 2019. MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS WAS THE BENEFICIARY OF A $750,000 BEQUEST. THEY ALSO RECEIVED MANY OF THE AVAILABLE COVID RELIEF GRANTS AND, AS A RESULT, ENDED THE FISCAL YEAR IN AN UNEXPECTEDLY POSITIVE FINANCIAL POSITION. THE FINANCIAL POSITION IS A TEMPORARY AND MISLEADING BOTTOM LINE. IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE THE FULL STORYTHAT IF THE ONE-TIME COVID RELIEF FUNDS AND THE BEQUEST WERE BACKED OUT OF THE REVENUE LINE, MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS WOULD BE OPERATING IN THE RED. AS A NON-PROFIT PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION, THEY MUST CONTINUE TO RELY HEAVILY ON THE GENEROSITY OF INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS AND CORPORATE SPONSORS TO OPERATE. AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, THE PLAN FOR FESTIVAL 2023 IS TO BRING THE FULL ORCHESTRA TO DURANGO FOR THE REGULAR THREE-WEEK SEASON TO BE PRESENTED AT THE COMMUNITY CONCERT HALL AT FORT LEWIS COLLEGE PLUS THE ADDITIONAL WEEK OF FREE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.