THE RICHARD STOCKTON COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 INITIATIVES PROJECT

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1 THE RICHARD STOCKTON COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 INITIATIVES PROJECT PROJECT LEADER(S): Lance Olsen (ARTP); Christopher Di Santo (ARTP) PROJECT TITLE: The Stockton Chamber Players DATE: May 14, 2014 CC: Lisa Honaker, ARHU Dean a copy of this completed form to Peter Baratta in the Office of the Provost at: peter.baratta@stockton.edu The boxes below expand as needed to accommodate your summary notes. You may also submit appendices or attachments, if needed. Please provide a summary of the project and your experience. During the first year of our 2020 experience the re-institution of the Stockton Chamber Players brought greater awareness of the Music program at Stockton through on-campus and community-based performances. We offered live music on five occasions beginning December 8, 2013 during an Open House in the Campus Center. Prospective students and their parents were made aware of the rich cultural life Stockton has to offer, as well as highlighting the newly formed music curriculum. This was a clarinet quartet that performed classical music selections. Our second performance was a repeat of the December 8th program, this time in Dante Hall for the Stockton Foundation Board of Trustees last February. It may be worth noting that Anthony Ciccone, son of Trustee Ray Ciccone, played with the Stockton Chamber Players on both occasions. The goodwill and sense of community that this type of presentation engenders cannot be overemphasized. On March 6, 2014 the Stockton Chamber Players featured a saxophone quartet consisting of full-time and adjunct faculty in the Stockton Music program. This performance of a mixture of Broadway show tunes and jazz standards was well attended, including Dot and Herman Saatkamp in the audience. The program took place in Alton Auditorium to an enthusiastic audience. The next performance featured Chris Di Santo, a Music program faculty member, in a classical music setting with clarinet, viola and piano. Again, the performance was well attended by both Stockton students and community members. On both of these dates (March 6th and March 18th) a questionnaire was distributed with the printed programs in which audience members were asked to respond to the presentation as a community engagement event and we collected numerous thoughts and suggestions in this way. A summary of the questionnaires is attached to this report for informational purposes. Our final performance of the academic year took place at the Seaview Country Club and Resort during the annual Stockton Gala April 26, The event commemorated both the 100th anniversary of the Seaview Country Club and the 50th wedding anniversary of President and Mrs. Saatkamp. Dr. Saatkamp specifically requested classical music on this occasion and we were very pleased 1 P a g e

2 to have an opportunity to play for the Saatkamps, and everyone in attendance at the Gala, on such a special evening. There were performances by two separate groups, the clarinet quartet mentioned above, and a string quartet consisting of members of the Bay-Atlantic Symphony. The Saatkamps have long been strong supporters of the Bay-Atlantic Symphony and we were very pleased to be able to draw such a talented group of musicians from their ranks. Overall we believe the revival of the Stockton Chamber Players this year was very successful and accomplished the objectives we set forth in our proposal. The interaction between Stockton Music faculty and the community presented unique opportunities to enhance the cultural life of the College community and to engage students in performances of classical, jazz, and vocal music styles that they might otherwise overlook. By reaching out to the community the Stockton Chamber Players serves as a cultural ambassador for the college. We hope to continue with an enhanced array of programs next year that will focus on community engagement as a top priority. Please refer to the current proposal narrative regarding details of how we plan to expand our activities during the next academic year. Please attach a copy of your original proposal or list your stated objectives and expected outcomes. Summary of stated objectives from the original proposal: From 1975 to 1997 the Stockton Performing Arts Program featured performances by Stockton faculty in concerts of chamber music under the rubric, The Stockton Chamber Players. Unfortunately, the program languished and eventually became defunct. The objective of this proposal is to re-establish the concept of faculty and student performances of music of all styles (i.e., classical, jazz, vocal genres, etc.) as a valuable resource of community engagement on our campus. 2 P a g e

3 Please describe the results of your project and compare them to your original expectations. Elaborate on how well your objectives were met and how they might have changed. Note any particular obstacles that may have prevented your achieving full satisfaction on desired outcomes. In our original proposal we anticipated some student participation in the Stockton Chamber Players and detailed a plan that would offer selected students side-by-side mentorship/internship opportunities. By sharing a passion for the performing arts through rehearsal and performance, we reasoned, students would receive real-time feedback, witnessing and experiencing firsthand how professional musicians prepare for a performance. Unfortunately, we could not identify student musicians who were up to this challenge. However, we are hopeful that in the near future, as the Stockton Music program grows and becomes better known on campus, we will be able to implement this aspect of our original plan. Please list any follow-up actions (publications, presentation venues, etc.) Are you recommending the continuation of this project? If so, please answer the following: What are the next action steps you foresee or recommend? What are the anticipated budget requirements going forward? Please identify the program, department, or division to which the continuation proposal should be forwarded. [Note: any continuation proposal will need to be reviewed, approved and incorporated into the appropriate budget process.] We are recommending the continuation of this project as it is our strong belief that the Stockton Chamber Players adds a valuable artistic component to the rich cultural fabric at Stockton College. This is in keeping with our mission, which states, the Stockton Chamber Players is to feature high-level public performances through on-campus and community-based performances that feature both Stockton s music faculty and community-based, professional musicians. 3 P a g e

4 While numerous large ensembles bring a regular series of classical and jazz-oriented programs to the campus throughout the academic year, the Stockton Chamber Players fulfills a much-needed void for providing classical/jazz chamber music performances to the campus. Typically, this draws its own following from a separate cultural base that prefers the intimacy of chamber music to other forces within the performing arts. Accordingly, we propose the performance of two professional-caliber chamber music/recital programs per semester. Since the Stockton Chamber Players can be both flexible in size and instrumentation, this ensemble can be also act as an ambassador for the college by providing music for events such as Open Houses, the Benefit Gala, Commencement ceremonies, etc. Moreover, the smaller scale of performing forces inherent with the Stockton Chamber Players ensemble can be the perfect vehicle for small venues or intimate gatherings. FINANCES: Projected budget for FY15 Amount Beginning Budget Balance as of: July 1, 2014 $ -0- Salary Expenditures Stipends $ 5,000 Full-time staff salaries $ Full-time faculty salaries $ TES salaries $ Fringe Benefits $ Total Salary and Fringe Expenditures $ 5,000 Notes/Comments This amount is based on union scale of $125/session. Please keep in mind that rehearsal time is included. Non-Salary Expenditures (supplies, travel, etc.) Advertising/sheet music $ 500 $250/semester 4 P a g e

5 Total Non-Salary Expenditures $ 500 Total Salary + Non-Salary Expenditures $ 5,550 Ending Budget Balance as of May 20, 2014 $ -0- If there are remaining expenditures required to complete the project, please itemize them with expected amounts and timing for payment. IMPORTANT: Unused funds will revert to the general 2020 Initiative Fund at the end of the fiscal year if not encumbered for project costs. Item Expected Amount Expected Timing for Payment Total 5 P a g e