The Long Beach Symphony Orchestra’s Influence in the Community
Music and the arts are powerful catalysts for the quality of life, culture, and economy within local communities. The LBSO is proud of its role, using music to help realize the full potential of our young citizens, enriching the lives of individuals of all ages and contributing to the well-being of our community.
The Orchestra’s goal is to continue the long tradition started in 1935, a tradition of making music for the city and neighboring communities, of bringing people together to be entertained, stimulated and even challenged by the music.
Every renowned city in the world boasts a symphony orchestra, and Long Beach is no exception. The City of Long Beach is the seventh largest city in California with a population of 462,257 people in more than 84 constituent neighborhoods. Nearby cities are also enriched by the close proximity of a first-class orchestra in a waterfront downtown.
Economics of Arts and Culture
“Arts and culture-related industries provide direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases” (National Governors Association, Center for Best Practice, 2008)
The LBSO helps to stimulate the local economy by:
- Attracting audiences who not only purchase 28,000 tickets for admission annually, but generate significant local spending on meals, souvenirs, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses.
- Paying its employees, purchasing supplies, contracting for services and acquiring assets from within the community.
- Partnering with local businesses to develop programs, provide services and offer special discounts for Orchestra patrons.
Preservation of the Arts for our Community
The Orchestra’s programs continue to provide core components of music education and enrichment to many people young and old.
- The Miller Foundation Symphony Concerts for Young People, presented by the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, are brilliant, kid-friendly, full-orchestra concerts in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center’s Terrace Theater and with the gateway Elementary Ensembles program designed for second and third graders, together reach over 24,000 children from Long Beach and Wilmington schools.
- Without this full range of music education programs, many Long Beach children would be among the least likely youngsters to enjoy and learn about symphonic music.
- Without LBSO education programs, some of our youth may never understand the potency of live orchestral music, have the opportunity to hold or play an instrument, or learn what is involved in the creation of the music they enjoy.
- Without appreciation of musicians, composers, orchestras or the richness of human creative expression through music, there are many people in our community who will not benefit from such a powerful catalyst that enhances quality of life.
- The location of the Orchestra makes it easy for community members to access great symphonic music with out the necessity to travel far for an evening of cultural enrichment.
- The LBSO makes it possible for families to enjoy entertainment at the highest level of artistry.
- The LBSO is a cornerstone cultural institution for the community of Long Beach for the preservation of symphonic music as an art form.
Call to Action
For centuries, classical music has always been supported by a small sector of the community so that the music may be heard by the masses. The more affluent sectors of our community have the power to exert a huge impact on the future success and cultural enrichment of the greater Long Beach area. By raising an additional $600,000 in new money during the 2011-12 season, your investment will enhance both the cultural heritage of this community and ensure an artistically rich environment for our audiences and our children.
As a community leader, we invite you to be a part of LBSO’s charge to educate, inspire, create and preserve this cultural legacy for Long Beach and its neighboring cities.
