Before we officially kick off another new year, PONCHO would like to take a moment to say thank you to the many donors, patrons, volunteers, and Board members who have made 2008 an outstanding year for arts and culture in Washington State.

With your generous support, PONCHO allocated nearly $1 million to Washington State arts organizations. Thanks to you, this investment is now at work enriching the quality of life in this region through outstanding visual and performing arts experiences for the public and arts education for children. In the coming year, PONCHO understands that, now more than ever, our artistic and cultural organizations and individual artists will depend upon our leadership. As our arts community grapples with tremendous uncertainty, PONCHO will not waiver from its tradition of leadership on behalf of the arts. We will be making the case to supporters that, during these challenging economic times especially, our arts and cultural institutions are part of what keeps us resilient. Art, music, live theatre, these are not luxuries, but more important and relevant than ever. In 2009, we invite you to continue to support us as we share this message with the broader community.
Photo courtesy of Cornish College of the Arts

As the year draws to a close, please consider making a tax-deductible charitable gift to PONCHO in support of the arts! Your gifts are essential to our ability to continue to foster a strong and healthy arts community we all can experience and enjoy. Every size cash gift to PONCHO counts and goes directly to the arts. Donate now!

You are invited to experience an extraordinary evening of superb musical talent on April 3, 2009, at Benaroya Hall.

The inaugural Seattle concert last May resulted in $19,000 for local arts education programs. A dozen groups in Washington state received these grants in support of various musical education activities and programs. Ten Grands is the vision of the Snowman Foundation to promote the musical arts in the Pacific Northwest. What began as the vision of Northwest composer and pianist Michael Allen Harrison has evolved into a multi-community effort which shares the joy, the healing, the learning, and the life-changing gifts music has to offer. PONCHO is proud to be selected as the major beneficiary of the evening’s proceeds.

 “We are pleased to grow our partnership with PONCHO and raise even more money for the arts this year,” said Stephen Dewalt, RBC Dain Rauscher, the event’s main sponsor. “We are thrilled to learn what last year's recipients were able to do with their grants. With PONCHO's experience and insight into the arts community, Ten Grands will continue to make a difference in our children and in our arts community.”

Tickets are NOW available at Ticketmaster or call 206.292.ARTS—just in time for the holidays.

Major Ten Grands sponsors include:

Proceeds to benefit PONCHO!

Ring in the New Year at the Symphony and Celebrate 10 Years of Music in Benaroya Hall.

Seattle Symphony is in the midst of a season of celebrations marking Benaroya Hall’s Tenth Anniversary. In addition to the New Year’s Eve Celebration featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and an audience-wide countdown to 2009, Seattle Symphony will present a Tenth Anniversary Gala on Saturday, June 27. Known as one of the finest concert halls in the world, Benaroya Hall is a true community resource. In addition to more than 220 Seattle Symphony concerts each season, Benaroya Hall annually hosts more than 700 events of all kinds.

Seattle Symphony’s January highlights include pianist Yefim Bronfman, guitarist Sharon Isbin, cellist Johannes Moser, and guest ensembles including San Francisco Symphony, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and Borealis String Quartet. Also in January, the Seattle Symphony will host scores of community events, including free orchestra concerts in local schools, and free public performances at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center and City Hall. Seattle Symphony will also join forces with Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras for a one-night-only event titled “Celebrate Asia!,” an exciting side-by-side performance celebrating our local Asian communities on January 16.

“PONCHO has had a very important role in the success of Seattle Symphony through the years,” commented Seattle Symphony Executive Director, Thomas Philion. “Because of organizations like PONCHO, Seattle Symphony is able to present the world’s best music and bring top-notch performers to Seattle as well as present important educational and community programs for the people of our region.”

Photo courtesy of Ben VanHouten.