Service

If you are a person with extra time and an interest in the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra, you may enjoy assisting us in a variety of ways. There are many tasks that require attention and completion throughout the year, and before, during and after each concert. Examples of ways to assist include things like serving on our Board of Directors; designing and emailing concert announcements; and/or offering a smile and a greeting to concert attendees as you provide them with a program. There are many ways your talents may help us. If you would like to volunteer, please do let us know. Feel free to call or email us. CLICK HERE to go to our "Contact" page.

Promotion

A huge part of our "behind the scenes" work for the orchestra is focused on advertising. For example, this website, or that post card or email about the next concert you may have received? Those are all developed, designed and sent from volunteers in the orchestra and are our best attempts to market ourselves as cost effectively as possible. Our primary marketing goal is to ensure that we are known within our community, and that people who might enjoy our concerts have the most up-to-date concert program information we can provide.

While we do what we are able to do to get the word out about our concerts, do you know what has been our best marketing resource? You! Many of our audience members attend because they heard about our concerts from a friend.

"Thank you" to each of you who let your friends know about our concerts and events. And to those who decide this is something they would like to do to help their local symphony? "Thank you" in advance for helping!

Funds

Money? Yes. That topic we dislike discussing. The necessary thing ...

The Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra benefits when money is available to purchase what is needed. Needed by the symphony are things that many seldom consider. There are rental fees for rehearsal and concert hall locations. There are insurance fees. There are licensing fees. Music must be purchased or rented. There is equipment handling and hauling fees, and countless other basic items that are needed for different concerts. The list of needs is far greater than most realize, and donations are the only way the LMSO is able to serve our community.

As all of our concerts are free to the public, we pursue a variety of avenues to raise money throughout the season. Our most ambitious effort is centered around our annual fundraising gala called "Wine & Waltzes". Donations from businesses and individuals throughout the midlands are graciously given, and we are humbled by your generosity and support. Thank you.

If you are interested in donating money to the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra, we gladly accept any amount, large or small, at any time during the year. Donating is as simple as making a telephone call with your credit card information to our Treasurer (at 803.400.3540); mailing a check or money order to the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 1093, Irmo, SC 29063, or by simply clicking the PayPal button shown here to make an online donation. If those methods are too much of a bother, feel free to make a donation at the door when you attend the next concert.

Fans

We like to believe we have fans. Sure. We're not a famous rock band so we aren't besieged by paparazzi or anything, but when we step on the stage and see a full house? It makes all the rehearsals and struggles involved to get our concert onto the stage worth it. We share pieces of ourselves, through our music, with every single person sitting in the audience.

We love it when our fans Tweet about us. And we're always thrilled when people "Like" us on Facebook. It would be awesome if someone would start a fan club blog or something about us. Any bloggers out there willing to take on the task? If so, please let us know so that we may follow your blog!

Oh! And here is another idea! If you are a music teacher and you would like to give your students extra credit points for attending a (free!) symphony concert, ask them to prove their attendance with a musician-autographed concert program. We musicians will feel famous and your students will get higher grades! A Total Win-Win situation, right?

What about it? Are you a fan? Yes? Can't wait to see you at our next concert!