Bach Aria Soloists General Information Contact Information Nonprofit Bach Aria Soloists Address PO Box 7112 Kansas City, MO 64113 Phone (816) 820-1473 Website www.bachariasoloists.com Facebook facebook.com/bach Aria Soloists Twitter twitter.com/kcbachsoloists Email bachariasoloists@gmail.com At A Glance How to donate, support, and volunteer Mail check payable to Bach Aria Soloists to primary address. Credit card on website, www.bachariasoloists.com In kind donations are most welcome in the form of Hauskonzert benefactor; marketing expertise; printing materials-marketing pieces; reception and venue sponsorship. 1
Mission & Areas Served Statements Mission Statement Bach Aria Soloists is the adventurous chamber music ensemble dedicated to presenting the genius and relevance of Johann Sebastian Bach, his contemporaries and those he inspired--through performances, multigenre collaborations and educational outreach. BAS accomplishes its mission by: Performing vocal and instrumental chamber music in intimate settings, the signature Hauskonzerts, and in community venues to encourage participation of diverse audiences. Collaborating with world-class, local, regional and national artists to provide multi-genre programs inspired by Bach. Bringing the brilliance of Bach to students through exciting, interactive BachReach programs, in-depth lecture/demonstrations and master classes in schools and other community settings. Bach Aria Soloists (BAS) has captivated Kansas City audiences for 17 years. This Season has been especially thrilling, as it began with a trip to Thailand, where BAS was the ensemble-in-residence at the Thailand International Composition Festival. Bach Aria Soloists performed the Asian premiere of "Dialogue," a work commissioned by them and composed by Guggenheim Award-winning composer Narong Prangcharoen. While in Bangkok, BAS took BachReach to 775 school children. Back in Kansas City, Bach Aria Soloists surprised visitors in the Loose Park Rose Garden with a free Pop-up Concert. Notes and Letters at the Kansas City Central Library was a free concert in partnership including excellent actor Matthew Schwader. BAS also provided period music for the exclusive Shakespeare's First Folio Exhibit at the Library. BAS was invited by the JCCC Performing Arts Series to perform their highly praised Histoire du Soldat in Polsky Theatre the unforgettable production with 14 artists filled the auditorium to near capacity. BAS Sings! gave audience members the rare opportunity to hear Bach Aria Soloists perform with a quartet from the Kansas City Chorale. Closing the season was the critically acclaimed "Adventures of Don Quixote" which "BAS performed with their usual flair for combining unique interpretations with steadfast artistic integrity (KCMETROPOLIS).BAS is remarkable in its quality, breadth, originality and fearlessness in collaborating with artists from other genres: Bobby Watson, Parsons Dance, Dr. Christoph Wolff, actor Mark Robbins; Wylliams-Henry Dance, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, cellist Matt Haimovitz, bandoneonist Hector del Curto, illustrator Shane Evans, and many others. Through collaborations, BAS brings Bach and those he inspired to new life. Impact Statement Major Accomplishments: In July 2016, BAS traveled to Bangkok on invitation from the Thailand International Composition Festival to serve as the event's ensemble-inresidence. BAS performed the Asian premiere of the work they commissioned in 2015, "Dialogue" written by Guggenheim Award-winning composer, Narong Prangcharoen. New programs were developed, such as "Folkways: Music from the British Isles and Its Migration to Missouri" in collaboration with Betse Ellis and "Notes & Letters" in collaboration with the Kansas City Central Library. New collaborators, including Chicago conductor Leslie B. Dunner, New York chamber musician Jo-Ann Sternberg, fiddler Betse Ellis and members of the Kansas City Chorale. BAS' original production of The Adventures of Don Quixote was filmed by Global Green Productions. Goals for the next year: Bringing to Kansas City world renown Bach scholar, Marcus Rathey. Redesigning website and taking the Folkways BachReach program to the Ozark, where Missouri fiddle music originated. 2
Needs Statement 1.Dedicated board members and more volunteers 2.In-kind; or reasonably priced, reliable, professional printing services CEO/Executive Director/Board Chair Statement Most of us on the Board of Directors serve because we believe in the incredible artistry of the Bach Aria Soloists. Elizabeth is such a gifted musician who can bring artists together in a very collaborative way. As board president, I love listening to her share her vision and watching a concert evolve from an idea to a magical evening unlike any other in Kansas City. Such is the case with the jazz collaboration with Bobby Watson during the 2011 season. It is unique, but not out of the ordinary! Bach and his contemporaries were very improvisational, like jazz musicians. Her collaboration with Owen Cox Dance Company was another unusual and inspired partnership. I am also passionate about the importance of art to a community. The arts are an integral part of the economy throughout our country. Imagine our city without the arts! What sense of place would we feel? Bach Aria Soloists also has a commitment to the next generation through our arts education programs. Bach Reach takes classical music to young people throughout Kansas City, and many of these children will have their first exposure to classical music. As board president, I will continue to build the board, strengthen financial stability for the Bach Aria Soloists, and encourage Elizabeth Suh-Lane s creative vision. And, I look forward to more of what Bach Aria does so well: Bringing artists to Kansas City from around the world to work with local artists and wow audiences. Service Categories Music Elementary & Secondary Schools Adult Education Areas of Service Areas Served Areas KS - Lawrence KS - Wyandotte County MO - Clay County MO - Eastern Jackson Co MO - Jackson County MO - Liberty MO - Platte County MO - Ray County KS - Franklin County BAS primarily serves the Kansas City metropolitan area. 3
Programs Programs World-Class Performance Partnerships Description Category Every season, BAS presents 2-4 Community Concerts held in Kansas City Midtown venues, easily accessible to the community. All are either free or priced to be widely affordable, with a $20 average price per ticket. Since their founding in 1999, BAS has made multi-genre collaboration its mantra. Unique in that each BAS member is a world-class musician, the ensemble seeks out local and international musicians who are doing interesting and inspiring work, and then engages them in creative partnerships. The goal is to produce concerts that are innovative and unusual, concerts that provide a deeper experience for the musicians themselves and for the audience as a result. Not only does this approach result in new art, it also enables BAS to reach new audiences. BAS is composed of: Elizabeth Suh Lane, violinist; Beau Bledsoe, guitarist; Elisa Bickers, harpsichordist; and Rebecca Lloyd, soprano. Concerts can include 10-20 additional guest musicians, actors, and dancers. Arts, Culture & Humanities, General/Other Musical Performances Population Served General/Unspecified,, Short-Term Success Long- Term Success Program Success Monitored By Our world-class performance partnerships are supremely satisfying for our audiences. By combining aural and visual components, or the preeminent scholar of Bach with the artistry of the Bach Aria Soloists, we can provide a truly complete sensory experience. Our audience members often comment about how exciting (and better) the concert experience is with the Bach Aria Soloists, as compared to typical concerts and venues. The ultimate goal of these spectacular events is essentially our group s mission: to bring the brilliant music of Bach, the Baroque, and the contemporary to new life. By presenting these works in new and innovative settings we hope to invigorate them with a sense of modernity, enabling contemporary audiences to truly connect to these great works of art, and to return to our future performances, placing the BAS at the forefront of concertgoers minds for excellent, edgy performances. We rely on audience and artist feedback to determine the success of our collaborative efforts. After the premiere of Accompagnata, a ViolinDance, the resounding sentiment was When are you going to do it again? Loyal patrons were excited to see that we would again be joining forces with modern dance; we shall with the Owen/Cox Dance Group at the end of the season. We also track audience attendance numbers to measure our success. After every major Bach Aria Soloists' event, patrons tell us, "This was the best concert I have ever attended." Or "This one was my favorite." Our goal is to have that kind of superlative feedback every concert. 4
Examples of Program Success The audiences of our collaborative events have grown to expect unique and extraordinary programming from us, as in our Accompagnata, a ViolinDance premiere. We received rave reviews of our scholarly collaboration with Dr. Christoph Wolff. One patron exclaimed: I have a great appreciation for scholars and I have a great appreciation for Bach, to hear the world s greatest scholar of Bach was a dream come true and the mastery of the Bach Aria Soloists is just incredible! A BAS subscriber was introduced to the ensemble through Wolff-BAS Bach Unlocked. She loved the concert so much that she immediately mailed in a large donation, two seasons later she is still the largest private donor to BAS, and a most valuable volunteer. The critic of the local paper explained that while interviewing Dr. Wolff about the Bach Unlocked program with the BAS, he trembled at the amount of knowledge that Wolff possessed, and was very impressed that he was coming to Kansas City to work with us. 5
BachReach Educational Program Description BachReach is BAS free educational program offered in KC area schools and urban community locations. BAS takes their collaroborative approach and applies to this program as well. By partnering with groups such as Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, Sumner Academy of Arts & Science, Scuola Vita Nuova, Alta Vista School and Shane Evans Dream Studio, BAS reaches diverse young people with a very intimate and interactive program. What makes BachReach work is the keen ability the BAS artists have for connecting with a young audience. The repertoire is chosen for its relevance to the student group. In 2013-2014, BAS expanded BachReach to include orchestra and chamber music clinics and master classes in area high schools. Elizabeth Suh Lane conducts these clinics tailored to the students' needs to help the school ensembles prepare for State Festivals. Over 1,000 young people will be served through BachReach this season. Category Population Served Short-Term Success Long- Term Success Arts, Culture & Humanities, General/Other, Children Only (5-14 years), Students of all ages benefit from the BachReach program. For younger children, our goal is to introduce the music of Bach, the Baroque, and live performance, while for older audiences we strive to introduce them to the intricacies of intuitive teamwork. In a session with first-graders at St. Paul's Episcopal School, Elizabeth Suh Lane gave a presentation about the classic eras of music, beginning with Bach and Baroque, and she also performed music from the masters of Classical, Romantic and Contemporary periods. She invited a student to perform a piano sonata by Mozart during the workshop, and through enthusiastic discussion of mood and music, the students were extremely engaged in what they were learning. This inspired the childrens music teacher to include specific study of composers and their music from each period in this year s curriculum. Through BachReach Open rehearsals, audiences can witness the ways in which a chamber ensemble must communicate to produce a great performance. Our BachReach program seeks to expose students of all ages to the brilliance of Bach, the music of the Baroque and beyond, and live performance. BachReach Open seeks to introduce community members to a behindthe-scenes glimpse of our professional ensemble s work in progress. It also demonstrates how artists can work intuitively and expressively together to a common goal. Program Success Monitored By We rely on participant feedback (both individual audience members, and sponsoring schools and organizations) to gauge the success of our BachReach program, including whether those individuals attend our concerts afterwards. We also have surveys that assist in gathering input from our audience. 6
Examples of Program Success The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation invited the Bach Aria Soloists to present professional development classes entitled Bach to the Future to their employees, who had the unique opportunity of attending a vibrant open rehearsal, and were engaged in extremely lively discussions with the musicians. It also illustrated that with cooperation and excellence as the goal, an ensemble working together does not need to have a conductor or supervisor delegating to its members to achieve their objectives. After the session, one Kauffman Foundation employee remarked, The Bach Aria Soloists are fantastic! Let s invite them back, please! The CEO of the Kauffman Foundation heard about the creative class, and attended our second BachReach Open session, asking questions throughout the rehearsal. 7
Hauskonzert Concert Series Description Category Hauskonzert is our celebrated subscription series. These concerts replicate the original, intimate setting for chamber music as Bach, himself, offered in his own home. Through our Hauskonzerts, we offer the community the most magnificent music by the finest local artists in the most splendid residences in the city! These convivial evenings satiate all the senses, with full-length performances, libations, and lavish receptions in a benefactor s private home. Arts, Culture & Humanities Artists-in-Residence Population Served General Public/Unspecified,, Short-Term Success Long- Term Success Program Success Monitored By Audience members generally come away from our Hauskonzerts with a greater appreciation of Baroque and Classical music, as evidenced by their testimonials to our artists, and some understanding of our unique approach to historical performance. Patrons of our Hauskonzerts say that these evenings, including full-length programs, and elaborate receptions, are truly satisfying for all of the senses. One regular patron describes our Hauskonzerts as a real gem in Kansas City, and one of the best kept secrets. Another recent fan of the BAS who was not a concert-goer before commented after our most recent Hauskonzert, This concert reminded me of what is truly important in life, I loved it! Since her first Hauskonzert experience last season, she regularly brings a large group of friends to each performance, a testament to her satisfaction. Another season subscriber brings new guests to each concert she attends in order to spread the word about the Bach Aria Soloists. Our Hauskonzerts seek to recreate the original settings for the works of Bach and those inspired by him through the intimacy of the home. As the only chamber ensemble in Kansas City dedicated to presenting the glorious arias from Bach s rich cantatas, the BAS provide a valuable service in reviving and maintaining the repertoire and the importance of human connection between musicians and audience through intimate venues. Our patrons gain more from our concerts through our verbal perspectives. We rely on audience feedback and subsequent concert attendance to measure our success. The majority of our audiences are loyal season subscribers, who have supported the Bach Aria Soloists for multiple years. All of our Hauskonzerts are sell-outs, and our public concerts in our BAS/Library series have also been at and beyond capacity which indicates the community s overwhelming appreciation for what the Bach Aria Soloists delivers. 8
Examples of Program Success Audiences appreciate the personal, intimate approach of our Hauskonzerts. Many audience members write enthusiastic letters of thanks, and seek out BAS artists and board members after concerts to share their enthusiasm. One patron, after attending our Holiday Hauskonzert for the first time, declared: I could never have imagined how extraordinary this evening would be! The concert was spectacular beyond my wildest dreams! Another patron, after his first Hauskonzert experience, exclaimed I thought I didn t like classical music, but this was great, I loved it! He is now a regular season subscriber. A first-timer to our most recent Hauskonzert wrote, I had a wonderful time, the performance was absolutely superb! BAS really is a world-class chamber group. I wanted to hear more, I could have been there all night. And it was so nice to continue the evening with fine food and good company. CEO Comments This is our 17th Season of Collaboration in Kansas City. We continue to be the chamber music leader with more collaborations than any other small arts ensemble in town. I have heard ArtsKC people state that more organizations need to partner with one another. Bach Aria Soloists exemplifies this mantra and has for the past decade. I hope our community will continue to recognize the BAS for the success and growth that we have achieved through our diligent pursuit of adventurous, excellent programs inspired by Bach. Our organization has attracted new arts partners this season: JCCC Performing Arts; newear Contemporary Chamber Ensemble; the Folly Theater. We have also renewed wonderfully successful partnerships with Heart of America Shakespeare Festival; the KC Public Library; and Owen/Cox Dance Group. We are truly blessed to have concerts at capacity, sometimes we have outgrown the smaller venues in Kansas City. It is a wonderful problem to have but there is also a gaping hole in acoustically great, appropriately sized chamber music halls in our area, this continues to be a challenge. The magnificent Kauffman Center's two halls our built for orchestra and opera, unfortunately, not chamber music. Nevertheless, BAS managed to fill Helzberg Hall with our "Night of Tango" concert. Our exciting BachReach education and Community Concerts deserve more funding. The challenges that we face are what everyone faces to survive. In order to continue to bring these creative quality events to the community, we count on our loyal donors to continue their support, we seek new funding from foundations and individuals who recognize the BAS as a leader in top quality chamber music here in Kansas City. This year, we have obtained new corporate and foundation funding, but a continuing challenge is seeking new resources for the BAS. 9
Leadership & Staff Executive Director/CEO Executive Director Ms. Elizabeth Suh Lane Term Start Oct 1999 Email elizabeth@bachariasoloists.com <span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"times New Roman";color:windowtext">Elizabeth Suh Lane, founder, executive/artistic director, and solo violinist, has performed worldwide as a chamber, solo, and orchestral musician. A member of the London Symphony Orchestra, Elizabeth performed regularly with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Since returning to the U.S., she has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and is in demand as a chamber musician across the US. Elizabeth has performed frequently with violinists Andy Simionescu of the Raphael Trio, and Anna Lim, Princeton University faculty; Chicago cellist Paula Kosower, and with Avery Fisher Prize winners Matt Haimovitz and Nokuthula Ngwenyama, violist. She performed with the Maia Quartet in 2010, and served as violin faculty member of the Brian Lewis Young Artists Festival. Elizabeth was a Chancellor's Scholar at UMKC Conservatory of Music, and earned her Masters of Music from the Yale School of Music as a Phi Kappa Phi Fellow and Broadus Erle Memorial Scholar designated as the school's best string player. She was a protégé of the late pedagogue Max Rostal in Switzerland. Elizabeth is featured on the PBS-Independent Lens Women and Girls Lead campaign, and was named Professional Leader of the Year by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce. She also served as Artistic Director and Head of Faculty for the Kansas City String Quartet Program, a popular summer camp for students which nurtures them to excellence through the art of string quartet performance. Staff Paid Full-Time Staff 1 Paid Part- Time Staff 1 Volunteers 12 Retention Rate 100% Paid Contractors 0 Formal Evaluations CEO Formal Evaluation Yes 10
Plans & Policies Organization Has a Fundraising Plan Organization Has a Strategic Plan Management Succession Plan Organization Policy and Procedures Nondiscrimination Policy Whistleblower Policy Document Destruction Policy Yes Yes No No No No No Collaborations World-class collaborations are our mantra. Local and national guest artists have joined forces with the Bach Aria Soloists in edgy, outside-the-box programming for which the BAS is reputed for delivering. The Bach Aria Soloists has been proud to partner with the Kansas City Public Library through free performances at the wonderful venues of the Plaza and Central Library branches: Truman Forum Auditorium and Kirk Hall. BAS collaborates frequently with modern dance including the Owen/Cox Dance Group and Elizabeth Koeppen, Associate-Artistic Director of Parsons Dance; and Wylliams-Henry Contemporary Dance Company. World-renowned bandoneonist Hector del Curto of Argentina jazz-tango pianist Gustavo Casenave of Uruguay came to KC for Bach Aria Soloists presents: Night of Tango! Our partnership with composer, conductor and St. Paul's Sunday Radio host, Bill McGlaughlin was unforgettable. BAS stretches the limits, crossing genres yet again with Bobby Watson, saxophone master in "Bach and Jazz Inventions." Each season, BAS works with several of the finest vocalists, instrumentalists and actors from the Kansas City area. These include David Adams, and Nathan Granner, tenors; Beau Bledsoe, guitar; Robert Brand, Mark Robbins, Cinnamon Schultz, John Rensenhouse, actors; Paula Kosower, Susie Yang, celli, and others; newear, JCCC Performing Arts Series and the Folly Theater Affiliations Affiliation Year Chamber Music America - Member 2000 Government Licenses Is your organization licensed by the government? CEO Comments From 2008 to now, we continue to fund a part-time Executive Assistant. We need to insure that we retain this valuable position for the organization and gain more funding for general operating to pay our crucial staff a more competitive salary. I am happy to report that we have remained in the black since our inception! We contract a CPA and a grant writer. We are seeking to expand the board with more highly qualified, dedicated individuals, board members with fund raising success are needed. We are also mindful of diversity of age and gender, and backgrounds in seeking new board members. 11
Board & Governance Board Chair Board Chair Ms. Nancy Kaiser-Caplan Company Affiliation NKC Associates, President/Owner Term July 2011 to June 2017 Board Members Name Ms. Lydia Butler Mrs. Nancy Kaiser Caplan Ms. Virginia Guzman Mrs. Christine Kline Mr. Henry Lane Mr. Jared MacIntyre Mrs. Janet Nash Mr. Jorge Santizo Ms. Elizabeth Suh Lane Mr. Dan Torchia Affiliation Hilary's Eat Well NKC Associates USDA, Dept. of Labor Community Volunteer Sterneck Capital Management Sprint American Century Louis Dreyfus Commodities, LLC Bach Aria Soloists; Kansas City String Quartet Program Bach Aria Soloists / Executive Assistant Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander 1 Caucasian 6 Hispanic/Latino 3 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 3 Female 7 Unspecified 0 Governance Board Term Lengths 3 Board Term Limits 0 Board Meeting Attendance % 90% Written Board Selection Criteria? Yes 12
Written Conflict of Interest Policy? Yes Percentage Making Monetary Contributions 100% Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions 100% Constituency Includes Client Representation Yes Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 12 CEO Comments Board members are allowed to rotate off of the board after their first three year term. At that point, they have the option of continuing for an additional term. We have a great board, and continue to build membership with job-specific expertise. We have made a steady commitment to diversity and continue to seek board members that will be excellent leaders. Advisory Board Members Name Mrs. Sally Cashion Mr. J. Kirk Davis Ms Leslie Bowles Lerner Mrs. Heidi Nast Affiliation Community Volunteer KC Studio 13
Financials Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Start July 01, 2017 Fiscal Year End June 30, 2018 Projected Revenue $164,531.00 Projected Expenses $164,531.00 Endowment Value $0.00 Percentage 0% Detailed Financials Revenue and Expenses Fiscal Year 2015 2014 2013 Total Revenue $181,249 $110,324 $103,278 Total Expenses $125,478 $114,967 $86,032 Revenue Sources Fiscal Year 2015 2014 2013 Foundation and Corporation $0 $0 $0 Contributions Government Contributions $155,886 $83,234 $78,914 Federal $0 -- $0 State $0 -- $0 Local $0 -- $0 Unspecified $155,886 $83,234 $78,914 Individual Contributions $0 -- $0 Indirect Public Support $0 $0 $0 Earned Revenue $23,911 $26,811 $24,253 Investment Income, Net of Losses $23 $27 $31 Membership Dues $0 $0 $0 Special Events $0 $0 $0 Revenue In-Kind $0 $0 $0 Other $1,429 $252 $80 14
Expense Allocation Fiscal Year 2015 2014 2013 Program Expense $35,987 $25,972 $23,166 Administration Expense $89,491 $88,995 $62,866 Fundraising Expense $0 $0 $0 Payments to Affiliates $0 -- $0 Total Revenue/Total Expenses 1.44 0.96 1.20 Program Expense/Total Expenses 29% 23% 27% Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue 0% 0% 0% Assets and Liabilities Fiscal Year 2015 2014 2013 Total Assets $184,577 $128,806 $107,847 Current Assets $170,577 $114,806 $107,847 Long-Term Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Current Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Total Net Assets $184,577 $128,806 $107,847 Short Term Solvency Fiscal Year 2015 2014 2013 Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities -- -- -- Long Term Solvency Fiscal Year 2015 2014 2013 Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets 0% 0% 0% Top Funding Sources Fiscal Year 2015 2014 2013 Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount Richard Stern Foundation $16,000 -- -- Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar Flarsheion -- -- Amount Foundation $14,000 Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount Kemper Foundation $10,000 -- -- Capital Campaign Currently in a Capital Campaign? No Goal $0.00 Organization Comments The BAS has been hugely successful in remaining in the black from its inception, and steadily increasing its budget, while expanding the program and administration, especially in the past four years. We have had an excellent success rate in obtaining the funding that we have sought for our innovative programming. As we continue to build the administration to meet the program's needs, we continue to seek more funding with a development plan initiated by our Board President to support our growth and vision. Foundation Comments FY 2015, 2014, 2013: Financial data reported using IRS Form 990. Foundation/corporate revenue line item may include contributions from individuals. Created 02.07.2018. Copyright 2018 Greater Kansas City Community Foundation 15