THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AWARDS AUSTIN SYMPHONY GRANT FOR LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES.

WHAT: Austin Symphony Awarded $10,000 Grant in Support of Concert Commemorating JFK. WHO: The Austin Symphony Orchestra and the National Endowment for the Arts CONTACT: Public Relations Department 476-6064

AUSTIN, TX (PRWEB) September 20, 2003 -- The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) today announced a $10,000 Leadership Initiatives Grant to the Austin Symphony Orchestra for its November 7th & 8th concerts that will commemorate John F. Kennedy on the 40th anniversary of his assassination. The performances will feature ABC News Hugh Downs narrating JFK: A Voice of Peace" (a work by local composer Dan Welcher) accompanied by Maestro Peter Bay and the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Executive Director of the Austin Symphony comments, We recognized the opportunity to commemorate this very special anniversary in programming the JFK original composition. The NEA grant will help defray the immense cost of this ambitious concert pair." Adding, We are very pleased that our proposal was accepted with the other outstanding organizations."

The NEA Leadership Initiatives Grant awarded to the Austin Symphony Orchestra for developing and implementing projects that address special needs to advance the arts in American life has also been presented to George Washington University, Museum of the City of New York, Minnesota Public Radio, Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, New York City Ballet, Inc., et al. The Austin Symphony will use the grant money to present this important performance to the public.

On why he programmed this concert now, the Austin Symphonys Conductor and Artistic Director, Peter Bay offers:
November 22, 2003 marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As Austin was meant to be JFK's next stop on his Texas tour, I felt it important for the Austin Symphony to pay homage to this great American on this anniversary. It becomes especially meaningful to perform a work written in Kennedy's memory by Austin's own Dan Welcher, "JFK: The Voice of Peace." The words of Kennedy and of Kennedy's cherished poets will be spoken by the respected journalist Hugh Downs, who covered the assassination, and sung by the University of Texas Choral Society. The music, which also features our own principal cellist Douglas Harvey, is powerful in emotion and orchestration, and is a fitting way to remember a man who's unique voice was so violently and prematurely silenced."

The National Endowment for the Arts exists to foster, preserve and promote excellence in the arts, to bring art to all Americans and to provide leadership in arts education. It is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts and each year awards more than 2,200 matching grants to non-profit organizations nationwide, including school districts, faith-based and community groups, performing arts organizations, galleries and museums.

Find more information online at http://www.austinsymphony.org.
Purchase tickets online and at the Symphony Box Office, 11th and Red River
or call 476-6064 or 1-888-4-MAESTRO (toll-free).

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