Fund Raising Appeal
Dear Patron of the Arts, if I may, I would like to appeal to your elevated sense of artistic values. What a wonderful and unique experience it is, that right here in Lagos, you are seated in an intimate cozy concert hall, awaiting the beginning of an orchestral concert that promises to feature works by both Western and Nigerian composers in Western and African musical idioms. For all that is said about our dear Lagos a one of a kind type of city, there is so much that it could offer. There is so much potential for developments that could transform Lagos into the dream city that we all long for. If we Nigerians do not begin to transform our city in our own small little ways who would. May I therefore implore you to consider the following:
MSO Background
The Muson Symphony Orchestra is a unique, versatile and one of a kind, 30-plus piece symphony orchestra. It is the realization of a long awaited and much anticipated objective of the Musical society of Nigeria. It is hoped that MSO will not only become a source of pride for Lagos and Nigeria, but also foster greater cultural interaction between Nigerians and non-Nigerians, as well as enhance tourism in our country.
Potential sponsors should know that MSO is a multi-dimensional ensemble. Through exciting and creative programming, MSO hopes to cater to a wide and diverse variety of musical tastes.
Dr. Paul Konye, the orchestra's conductor promises to present programs divers enough to accommodate a wide variety of musical tastes from the different demographic segments of our community. Specifically, the orchestra will cater to children, families, the casual listener, as well as present concerts that are devoted to the very serious and conservative classical music lover.
Objective
Some of the major objectives of founding MSO are to enhance, revitalize, and to enrich the variety of cultural activities available in Nigeria by promoting classical music. I should quickly add that by classical music, the orchestra will not be limited to playing only works by foreign composers. In addition to compositions by Beethoven, Brahms and Bartok, The orchestra will also play compositions by Nigerian composers such as Bankole, Sowande, Ekwueme, and Akpabot as well. Also, in addition to the regular concert hall music, Muson Symphony Orchestra will present concert programs devoted to Broadway music, Show tunes, jazz, light classics and light instrumentals.
Support & or Sponsorship
As you are probably well aware, there is no orchestra in the world that is self sufficient without some sort of external support. The value in founding an maintaining an orchestra is not one that can be quantified in monetary terms. This initiative is to be perceived as a cultural investment in our dearly beloved country as an enhancement of our quality of life. MSO should be perceived as a source of pride and an educational outfit that is of benefit to us and future generations of our country.
In addition to seeking financial support to help defray some of the orchestra's operational costs, MSO is a also keenly interested in the following kinds of sponsorship as well.
That a country and city the size of Nigerian and Lagos respectively do not have permanent resident orchestras (until now) is rather unfortunate. However, we now have one, therefore, it is my sincere hope that you would find some merit in helping MSO as it seeks a corporate body to fully or partially support or and adopt the orchestra. The benefits are immense for our country. Your involvement in, and association with, a forward-looking and culturally enhancing venture such as supporting MSO, can only enhance your personal values, business, and our community.
In closing, I would personally like to express a most profound appreciation to Mr. John E. Addeh and Elf Petroleum for their most appreciated sponsorship of the Artistic Director position.
One of MUSON'S core mission is the provision of facilities for training in the performance and theory of classical music. The MUSON school of music has since 1989 offered such training on a part-time basis, mainly to young people. The trustees of MUSON approved the upgrading of the school to a full-time diploma-awarding institution capable of offering training to professional musicians and those interested in taking up music as a career with effect from September 2006. The new measures are also expected to stimulate the newly established MUSON symphony orchestra, raise the standard of musicianship in Nigeria, create gainful employment and contribute positively to the tourist and entertainment industry in Nigeria.
The MUSON School of Music / Symphony Orchestra Fund
This Fund was established in 2003 to raise the sum of N300 million (three hundred million naira) to be used for the following purposes:
* To create a N200 million (Two hundred million naira) Endowment Fund, income from which will be untilised in meeting the cost of running the school.
* To provide N100 million (one hundred million naira) for the purchase of musical instruments, accessories, computer, music books and scores required for teaching purposes and for the library
The total amount raised so far is about N100 million (one hundred million naira).donations to this fund are therefore still being solicited. Such donations can be in cash or in kind, in one lump sum or by stated periodical instruments and may be made in the following ways:
1. You may subscribe to any convenient portion of the Endowment Fund.
2. In Lieu of an outright donation towards the Endowment Fund, you may wish to take on, for a number of years, financial responsibilities for one or two expatriate teachers.
3. You may donate towards the purchase of a number of items on the list of instruments and other Capital Expenditure for the school or the Orchestra.
4. Donations of whatever amount will be acknowledged and the names of the donors inscribed in a MUSON roll of Honour to be located in a conspicuous place at the School.
Tax Concessions
The federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Board of inland revenue have given recognition to the charitable and non-profit nature if the society by exempting it from taxation in respect of its own income and by listing the society among those organisations donations to which, by companies, are treated as allowable expenses for Tax purposes, provided they are from non-oil producing corporate bodies.
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