Bruce Lisman of Shelburne, Barbara Wessel of Essex Junction, and Victoria Young of Proctor were elected to the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s Governing Board of Directors during the VSO Association’s Annual Meeting Wednesday night (September 15, 2010) at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.
Lisman recently retired from a career in global equities management at JP Morgan Chase and, later, Bear Stearns. He serves on the boards of Merchants Bancshares, National Life Group, and Shelburne Museum, and was previously chairman of the University of Vermont Board.
Barbara Wessel is head of Wessel Associates, a fund raising and donor relations firm serving higher education, health care, and other community organizations. She previously served as vice president for institutional advancement at St. Michael’s College. Wessel chaired the VSO’s Waltz Night in 2003 and 2004 and has chaired the Champlain Valley regional board of the VSO since 2005.
Victoria Young’s professional career includes positions in non-profit management, fund raising, and advocacy. After serving as Executive Director of Crossroads Arts Council in Rutland from 1992-99, she accepted a series of board appointments, including the Rutland Regional Medical Center, Vermont Commission on Women, Vermont Public Radio, and the Vermont Community Foundation.
“We welcome these wonderful new directors to our governing board,” said Chairman Ken Squier. “They add great strength, wisdom, and expertise to a group of statewide advocates for our Vermont Symphony.”
Phil and Crea Lintilhac of the Lintilhac Foundation were recognized as members of the VSO’s lifetime giving circle, the Crescendo Society, for their long-time support. The newly-created Simon Pearce award was presented to the Lintilhacs, and others will be presented to Crescendo Society members at upcoming VSO concerts and special events.
Also at the meeting, Squier announced a new partnership with Trapp Family Brewery: Trapp Lager is now the official lager of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. The collaboration includes mutually beneficial cross-promotion and having Trapp Lager available at select VSO performances.
In his remarks, Squier reported the Orchestra has raised $3.2 million toward its 75th Anniversary Endowment Campaign goal of $3.5 million. “The response has been great, especially given the uncertainty of our economy,” he stated. We have every reason to believe we will exceed our goal in the coming months, with the help of all our extended VSO family.”
VSO Treasurer Tony Kvedar and Executive Director Alan Jordan announced preliminary positive financial results for the recently completed fiscal year 2010. The VSO anticipates a surplus of more than $40,000, on an operating budget of $1.5 million. In addition, subscriptions for both the Burlington and Rutland concert series are up significantly, partly due to the appearance of cellist Yo-Yo Ma in April, 2011. Jordan reported that the Yo-Yo Ma concert at the Flynn Center in Burlington sold out before single tickets were made available to the public. Tickets for the nearly 40 other concerts this season are now available for sale. Details are available at www.vso.org.
