Support Great Music
500 at 50
To celebrate our 50th season in 2012-2013, we're planning a year's worth of special programming. It's an ambitious season meant to honor our faithful audience members and friends. From Beethoven's "9th Symphony" to an exhibit at the Cookeville History Museum, from a Reunion Gala honoring our beloved Symphony Guild to special guest appearances, opera and the premieres of new commissions, it will be a year to remember.
We are asking our friends and supporters to make a special gift -- one that acknowledges the impact the Bryan Symphony has had on the quality of life in Cookeville. Please consider joining the 500 at 50 Anniversary Society, a group of 100 of our friends who are contributing $500 more than their current level of giving to raise an additional $50,000 for 50th season programming. Without our supporters, we could not have reached this pivotal point in our history. With our supporters, we'll start our next half-century with confidence and vitality.
Contact Laura Clemons at 931-525-2633 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more about how your participation can help make this celebration possible.
Make a Gift
Make a Gift
To contribute to the Bryan Symphony online, visit The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's "Giving Matters" site. Donations are handled securely, and the process is both informative and convenient.
Support Great Music at these Giving Levels
We invite you to support the orchestra in our 50th season and beyond by taking part in our giving program at one of the following levels:
BRYAN SOCIETY
Free Community Concert Sponsor ($11,000 annually)
Season Presenting Sponsor ($10,000 pledged over a one- to two-year period)
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CIRCLE
One-time gift for 50th anniversary programming/concert sponsorship ($5,000)
Annual gift pledge of $500 over a 10-year period ($5,000 cumulative)
DERRYBERRY SOCIETY
Concertmaster Chair ($3,000 annually)
Sustaining Concert Sponsors (multi-year gifts: $3,000-$4,000)
MAESTRO SOCIETY
Sustaining Concert Co-Sponsors (multi-year gifts: $1,500-$2,500)
Conductor's Circle ($1,000 annually)
500 at 50 ANNIVERSARY SOCIETY
$500 above previous level of giving
OVATION CLUB
Composers Circle ($750) - NEW
Founders Circle ($600) - NEW
Chair Sponsors ($500) - NEW
Benefactors ($350) - NEW
Patrons ($200)
Donors ($100)
Contributors ($50)
Supporters ($25)
Every gift matters. Other popular ways to contribute to the Bryan Symphony's success are through commemorative gifts that honor a loved one or through a planned gift. To make a donation, you may call us at 931-525-2633 or write to us, filling out and returning this Contributor's Form along with your gift. The "Giving Matters" web site of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is also available for supporters who choose to make their donations online.
Volunteer Opportunities
Be a Part of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra
Volunteers are the lifeblood of any non-profit organization; they offer fresh ideas, energy and a special perspective to the groups they choose to work with.
We like to think that the volunteers of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra are a special class unto themselves. Consider that our current concert ushers are a former president of Tennessee Tech University and a financial adviser. That a local philanthropist and Spanish teacher organizes kids' stuff like face painting and making finger puppets. A finance professor who doubles as a soprano happily sells tickets in the box office at every Sunday performance. A husband and wife who volunteer at ed concerts -- he's a retired air line pilot and she's a teacher -- happily navigate kids to their seats during education concerts.
All walks of life, all vocations and avocations: That's what is so special about the men and women who gladly spend their time with us.
Consider joining this multi-talented, multi-tasking group, adding your own time and special skills to our team. E-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , print out this Volunteer Interest Form and mail it to us at 123 W. Broad, Suite 4, Cookeville, TN 38501, or call us at 931-525-2633.
And consider joining the Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association. Individual memberships are only $15, and family memberships are $20. You'll receive our newsletter, Notes and Notices, reduced prices for Symphony Socials, and invitations to special events. You can print a BSOA Membership Form here to fill out and mail in with your annual association dues. The BSOA is the core of our volunteer base, and volunteers contribute directly to our ability to fulfill our mission.
Advertise in Our Programs
Advertise in our Concert Programs
We believe we seat the most educated, sophisticated and intelligent audiences in the Upper Cumberland – all of whom receive a copy of our concert program at each of our five annual subscription concerts.
In that 24- to 52-page publication, they read about the performances and performers they’re seeing and hearing – and they see advertisements from our sponsors and other community businesses, services and organizations that reserve space with us every year.
Our production schedule deadline is usually three weeks prior to each concert. Reservation deadlines for the 50th season are:
:: Sept. 10, 2012 (for Oct. 7 concert)
:: Oct. 29, 2012 (for Nov. 18 concert)
:: Jan. 21, 2013 (for Feb. 10 concert)
:: March 4, 2013 (for March 24 concert)
:: April 1, 2013 (for April 21 concert)
So far this season, the following businesses and organizations are advertising in the BSO concert programs: Bank of Putnam County, Nest gallery, Father Tom's Pub, Synergy yoga studio, The Law Office of Donna Simpson, Luna & Birdwell Investment Group, Streamliner Creative Group, Ships 'n Trips travel agency, Aphena Pharma Solutions, Just For You Gifts & Accessories, WCTE-TV, CBT Men's Shop, Regions Bank, Tier 1 Orthopedics, and the ART Prowl, Cookeville's annual studio and gallery tour.
If your organization is interested in learning more about our program advertising opportunities and current rates, please call 931-525-2633 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
2012-2013 Sponsors
Meet the sponsors of our golden anniversary concert season
Concert sponsorships are vital to the continued strength of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. Quite simply, without private and corporate sponsorships, we would perform fewer concerts every season. Our education concerts for children, for instance, are made possible by funding from local and state grant agencies, while other performances are funded by a coalition of individuals and corporate groups who each contribute a portion of a concert’s funding.
Concert Sponsors
Rev. Herb and Mrs. Betty Catlin
Dr. Walter Derryberry
Sam and Diane Glasgow
Bob and Julia Lowe
Bob and Gail Luna
Luna & Birdwell Investment Group
Albert and Rosemary Ponte
Angelo and Jennette Volpe
Community engagement sponsor
Grant agencies
Cookeville Arts Council
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Message from the Director
A Message from the Director
This spring, the Bryan Symphony Orchestra at Tennessee Tech University completed its 49th season. That’s 49 years of professional orchestral music in our largely rural section of Tennessee. This fall, our audience and friends are going to be hearing a lot about our 50th anniversary season. We believe our longevity is pretty remarkable.
There are two reasons why we’ve reached this milestone in our history.
The first reason is that the people of our area value beautiful music. The way we know this is that every concert is a sell-out, and that the vast majority of our audience members buy season tickets every year.
The second reason is the longstanding relationship between Tennessee Tech University and the Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association. Our partnership with Tennessee Tech University comes with a gorgeous concert hall and the area’s premier musicians. Our financial support comes solely through the efforts of the community-based Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association.
This partnership has resulted in well over 200 formal and pops concerts, four national awards from the League of American Orchestras, and dozens of commissions and premieres of works by regionally and nationally known composers.
Our 50th anniversary season will be a celebration of this partnership, of course, but mostly, it will be about special musical and cultural programming, which is the best possible way we can thank everyone who has helped make our 50th season possible.
We invite you to be a partner in our 50th anniversary programming. To make a donation, call us, write to us -- using this Contributor's Form -- or give to the BSO online through The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's secure web site, "Giving Matters."
We believe that every community – no matter how small -- deserves live classical music. Your gift proves that you share this belief -- and will help us begin the next 50 seasons with even more confidence in the strength of our relationship. From everyone associated with the Bryan Symphony, thank you.
Laura Clemons, Interim Executive Director, Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association
