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.

DURING COVID-19 MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS CONCENTRATED ON BOTH MANAGING/CUTTING EXPENSES AND MAINTAINING STRONG DONOR RELATIONSHIPS. AFTER THE CANCELED FESTIVAL SEASON OF 2020 WE REDUCED OUR STAFF TO ONE FULL TIME STAFF PERSON, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN, WRITE GRANTS, MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH DONORS AND SPONSORS MANY OF WHOM AGREED TO SUPPORT WITH THEIR USUAL ANNUAL DONATION DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY THAT LIE AHEAD. WE TOOK AN OPTIMISTIC APPROACH AND PLANNED A MODIFIED SEASON IN HOPES THAT WITH THE PROMISE OF A VACCINE ON THE HORIZON, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN IN-PERSON FESTIVAL IN THE SUMMER OF 2021. WITH THIS IN MIND, WE HIRED ANOTHER FULL TIME STAFF PERSON THAT STARTED IN JANUARY 2021. WE BUILT A MOBILE STAGE SO THAT AT THE VERY LEAST WE COULD PRESENT FREE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION IN A SAFE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH SAN JUAN BASIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND HAD SEVERAL TICKETING, SEATING, AND COMMUNICATIONS PLANS AT THE READY AS WE MOVED THROUGH THE COVID DASHBOARD AS A COMMUNITY FROM CODE RED TO CODE GREEN. OUR MODIFIED SEASON INCLUDED SEVERAL SMALLER INDOOR/OUTDOOR HYBRID VENUES. WE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF MUSICIANS THAT WE BROUGHT TO DURANGO AND BROUGHT THEM IN GRADUALLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE THREE-WEEK FESTIVAL IN ORDER TO SAVE EXPENSES. BY THE END OF THE FESTIVAL, WE WERE ABLE TO PRESENT THE FULL FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA INSIDE THE COMMUNITY CONCERT HALL WITH AN AUDIENCE SIZE CAPPED AT 75% FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING. THE 2021 MODIFIED SEASON WAS SUCCESSFUL IN THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO CANCEL ANY EVENTS AND MANY OF THE SMALLER VENUES SOLD OUT. THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATED THE NEW MOBILE STAGE CONCERT SERIES AND THEY WILL CONTINUE AS PART OF OUR REGULAR SEASON FOR YEARS TO COME. WE RECEIVED MANY OF THE AVAILABLE COVID RELIEF GRANTS AND, AS A RESULT, ENDED THE FISCAL YEAR IN A POSITIVE FINANCIAL POSITION. LOOKING AHEAD TO FY 2022 WE REMAIN VIGILANT WITH REGARD TO EXPENSES AND CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT AND APPLY FOR GRANTS THAT SUPPORT THE HARD HIT PERFORMING ARTS SECTOR. WE BELIEVE OUR POSITIVE FINANCIAL POSITION IS A TEMPORARY AND MISLEADING BOTTOM LINE. IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TELL OUR STORYTHAT IF WE BACKED OUT THE ONE-TIME COVID RELIEF FUNDS, WE WOULD BE OPERATING IN THE RED. AS A NON-PROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION, WE RELY ON THE GENEROSITY OF INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS AND CORPORATE SPONSORS. IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS ARE STILL RECOVERING AND MAY NOT BE IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT US AT PAST LEVELS OR EVEN AT ALL. WE ARE ALSO KEEPING AN EYE ON THE LODGING SITUATION. WHEN WE BRING IN OUR MUSICIANS WE ARE TASKED WITH FINDING ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR THEM.AND THE COST/NIGHT IN DURANGO HAS RISEN TO ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS IN 2019. AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, OUR PLAN FOR FESTIVAL 2022 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.