2009 Year-End Letter

November 30, 2009

Dear Friends,

With your support and enthusiasm, SFNM has accomplished much: nine seasons of world-class presentations of the music of our time; last spring’s “Language of Birds” youth opera project which delivered a deep-immersion experience in opera to nearly 80 local youth, modeling artistic and educational excellence; and securing a national profile for ourselves as a leading proponent of contemporary classical music.

Perhaps you are aware that SFNM is the only New Mexico music organization to receive an NEA Arts and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Grant. (Indeed, we were one of just seven New Mexico arts organizations, and one of three contemporary music organizations nationwide to receive such funding.) SFNM is unequivocally delivering upon its mission: promoting understanding of, enthusiasm for, and participation in the music of our time, and serving as an advocate for new classical music and its future.

As a SFNM enthusiast, you know that we go about serving our mission in a no-nonsense manner that puts the music first. We are proud that even in this economic downturn, we continue to augment our impressive ratio of audience members served per dollars spent. At the same time, we have not wavered in delivering a season of vital and diversified programming: from big-name acts (ETHEL, this past September) to audience favorites (The Bowed Piano Ensemble who return in March); from our annual collaboration with the Santa Fe Opera to cutting-edge performance (last month’s presentation of The Language and Sound Project); from bringing new work to the repertoire (Missy Mazzoli’s June 2010 residence and world-premiere for the SFNM CoMission Club) to family-friendly community events such as the community “boombox” performance of Phil Kline’s “Unsilent Night”, which took place in Santa Fe and Albuquerque this year -- garnering mention in The New Yorker.

SFNM also has a vibrant future agenda, with more commissions, recording projects, world-class collaborations and much more of the most stimulating new music of our time. We are also strategically and artistically poised for the right match of visionary foundation support to help us augment our youth programs, something which is strongly desired by the community. SFNM will continue to develop artistic and strategic partnerships with other regional cultural organizations, and we welcome your ideas and input on ways you would like to be involved in forging this future.

As a composer, and as a conductor who devotes my energy to new music, I believe the best way we can serve classical music in these critical times is by serving its present and future. I hope you will continue to support us and share in SFNM’s journey along this path, because our plans and possibilities grow only more exciting.

Yours,

John Kennedy

Founder and Artistic Director