The Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) has been awarded Community Relations of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras (ICO) in recognition of two programs launched in their 2021-22 season. Presented annually, these awards recognize excellence in the field of music performance and for the support of musical organizations. The awards panel of judges are drawn from the Illinois Council of Orchestras Board of Directors and independent professional conductors and musicians. This is the second consecutive year that the ICO has recognized the QCSO, naming them as Professional Orchestra of the Year for their 2020-21 season.
To fulfill their essential goals of opening community access to the QCSO and engaging with the entire community, the QCSO introduced Concert Access Pass (CAP) and Promo Partners for the 2021-2022 performance season.
CAP connects individuals and families served by partnered community organizations to all QCSO concerts for free. This program strives to offer all Quad Citizens the opportunity to experience the unique power of music to build connections with others and transform lives.
Individuals receiving services or assistance from participating CAP Partner Organizations are eligible to receive up to four free tickets to all QCSO concerts.
The QCSO’s current CAP Partner Organizations include:
- Boys & Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley
- Clock, Inc
- Davenport Public Library
- Empower House
- EveryChild
- Family Resources
- Friendly House
- Hand in Hand
- HAVlife – Quad Cities Chapter
- Humility Homes
- Illinois Department of Human Services
- Iowa Department of Health-Human Services – Scott County
- Martin Luther King Center
- NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley
- Project Search
- Rick’s House of Hope
- River Bend Food Bank
- SBC Outreach Music & Arts Academy
- Tapestry Farms
- The Arc Quad Cities
- The Project of the Quad Cities
- World Relief Quad Cities
During the 2021-2022 performance season, 122 tickets were distributed through the CAP program.
Promo Partners was introduced as a way for the QCSO to offer visibility and financial support for area community organizations through ticket purchase give-back donations. Each organization receives a unique promo code for a QCSO performance, and 50% of all ticket proceeds using that code are donated directly back to the partner. Each organization is also offered the opportunity to promote their organization and its mission in person.
Last year’s give-back donations totaled $653, an amount that has already increased by nearly 50% for the 2022-2023 season.
The Promo Partners for the 2021-2022 season included:
- Boys & Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley
- African American Leadership Society
- Dress for Success Quad Cities
- River Bend Food Bank
- Mercado on 5th
ABOUT THE ILLINOIS COUNCIL OF ORCHESTRAS
The Illinois Council of Orchestras was founded in 1974 with a mission:
- to encourage, promote, and assist orchestras throughout the State of Illinois
- to promote an exchange of information among members, including providing consultants and speakers
- to hold educational conferences for member organizations, including musicians, staff, boards, volunteers, and audiences.
More information about the ICO is available at www.ilcouncilorchestras.org
Read the award press release from ICO:
https://www.ilcouncilorchestras.org/assets/media//ico-awards-press-release-2023.pdf