Cantata Singers Capital Campaign

Campaign Ends on High Note
$2.2 million raised

December 2001

We did it! The Campaign for the Cantata Singers has raised $2,207,337, surpassing its $2 million goal by more than 10%! Campaign Chairman David Rockefeller, Jr. announced this good news at a recent meeting of the Trustees.

Of the funds raised, $1,412,198 has been pledged to unrestricted endowment; $409,554 to the David Rockefeller, Jr. Fund, to support and enrich the chorus; $252,175 to the Fund for Innovation, to support special projects; $60,960 to the Education and Outreach Fund, to support the Classroom Cantatas composition program in the Boston Public Schools; and $72,450 to the Janet H. Abbe Memorial Recording Fund, to fund recordings of works such as John Harbison's Four Psalms. To date, nearly 75% of the amount pledged has been received.

The dedication of the chorus itself was particularly strong. Of 67 choristers who sang one or more concerts last season, 60 made a pledge to the Campaign, with chorus pledges totaling a remarkable $475,311. Tenor Carey Erdman, who headed up the chorus effort, reports that competition among sections was fierce, with sopranos in the lead at 95% of that section's members pledging. Tenors came in a close second at 93%, followed by altos at 88% and basses at 82%. Erdman, chorus President Majie Zeller, and Vice President Kathryn Carlson were surprised and moved by the first-time singers who felt strongly enough about the organization to pledge.

This summer the Cantata Singers was thrilled to receive a second grant from the highly competitive Endowment Program of the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Project. Crucial to the Campaign's early success was a $100,000 grant from this same program in 1999. This second, $38,150 grant is testament to the Cantata Singers' track record in fiscal management, fund-raising, and overall quality.

The trustees thank each one of the 210 donors who made capacity gifts that will benefit the Cantata Singers in perpetuity. Special thanks to the Steering Committee members, who spent many hours planning, strategizing, soliciting, and thanking donors: led by tireless and inspirational Chairman David Rockefeller, the committee included Robert Abbe, David Berman, Kathryn Carlson, Carey Erdman, David Griesinger, Elizabeth Hodder, Charles Husbands, Donald Lindsay, Willard McGraw, Sheila Perry, Catherine Radmer, Fred Rosen, John Rutherford, Epp Sonin, and Majie Zeller. Heading up staff efforts was former Executive Director Ann Marie Lindquist, who stayed on as Campaign Director. Special thanks to Joanna Polito for planning some fabulous social events, to Barbara Raney for phenomenal public relations and development support, and to Melissa von Stade and Sue Kinney of the Wayland Group for expert fund-raising counsel.

Donors should watch their mail early in the new year for a final printed report on the Campaign. Thanks again to all who participated in the Campaign for the Cantata Singers. When all pledges are in, the Cantata Singers' endowment should approach $3 million, a remarkable sum for an organization of this size; few choruses in this country have any endowment at all. Though the Campaign is over, estate and planned gifts to this well-managed endowment are welcome at any time; for more information, contact Executive Director Lisa Stiller at 617-868-5885.