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Frequently asked questions—
How long has Claflin Hill been around?
Claflin Hill was incorporated in 1997 as a nonprofit organization or 501(C)3.
The organization evolved from being a support organization for summer park
concert but quickly gained recognition as a World Class Symphony Orchestra. The
Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra gave its first performance on May 7, 2000 at
Milford Town Hall.
Town Hall? What kind of concert space does the Town Hall provide?
The Milford Town Hall actually houses a 650 auditorium in its upstairs. The
acoustics of this historic space are very similar to those at Mechanics Hall in
Worcester. This newly renovated space provides the perfect environment to
experience classical music performed by The Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra .
What type of music training do the musicians have?
All of our musicians hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in music performance
majoring on their particular instrument. Many also hold Graduate Degrees as
well. These are professional musicians who perform with many of the finest
orchestras in New England. In addition to performing, many also teach—either at
public schools or private music schools.
What do I get for a business partnership?
Benefits range depending on the level of support. The following pages should
answer this question fully.
How will my donation be used? Does it go to overhead and things unrelated to
supporting your major cause?
Your donation goes to pay our musicians. Overhead is paid for by other earned
income streams, such as ticket sales.
How much does it cost to put on a symphony concert?
It costs at least $25,000 to put on a single symphony concert.
65 musicians are paid $75 each for 3 rehearsals and $120 each for concert
performance.
Other costs include:
· Music
rentals and music purchase
· Venue
rental fees
· Advertising
and promotion
· Soloist
and conductor’s fees
If a ticket cost $35 and you sell 650 tickets, that should cover your costs,
right?
One of Claflin Hill’s missions is to be accessible to the public and in
particular this community. We offer reduced price tickets to students and
seniors. We also provide our corporate sponsors with blocks of complimentary
tickets to share with employees, colleagues, clients, etc. (See the following
pages for further suggestions.)
As we continue to grow and build our audience, we inevitably will enjoy sell-out
houses and we will have to add concerts or turn away ticket buyers. Until that
time, the above math does not translate to the ticket revenue earned for each
performance.
It is an industry standard that ticket sales only bring in between 15 and 17% of
the overall income for a symphony orchestra. The Boston Symphony Orchestra also
experiences that same ratio.
What about government funding? Isn’t there a a great deal of money available
there?
While there is some funding available through government (state and federal)
agencies, the application process is extremely rigorous and labor intensive.
Currently, Claflin Hill does not employ a dedicated development officer(s) that
would be in a position for this task. In addition, funding is often awarded to
larger organizations. Recently, Claflin Hill had received grants through the
Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. This grant was cut last year
leaving our organization with a deficit. Relying on large government grants is
both dangerous and unwise as this funding is controlled by officials often with
no direct connections to the region.
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