To provide professional quality musical performances to communities in and around the Rappahannock region, and to promote music education, musical awareness, and music appreciation.
The vision of the Rappahannock POPS Orchestra is to:
The quality and character of the musical experience provided by the orchestra is determined by its musicians. The impact of a fully qualified and dedicated musical staff is enormous and essential to the success of the orchestra. In order to provide the highest quality musical and educational experience for the community, the orchestra must focus on the development of its employment practices.
1. Recruit and retain quality musicians.
2. Achieve and maintain financial strength and long-term financial stability.
3. Establish strategic and collaborative relationships.
4. Promote music education and awareness
Since the establishment of the Rappahannock POPS Orchestra in 2000, the orchestra has grown from a small volunteer musical group, to a large, non-profit organization. This group now employs professional and amateur musicians, relies of a board of trustees for governance, and is sustained by donations from the community, both financial and non-financial. The orchestra has established itself as an essential part of the community, and yet its budget remains small in comparison with other groups of similar size in comparable communities throughout the United States. In order to sustain the organization over the long term, the group must establish a self sustaining economic model for future generations.
The Rappahannock Region, encompassing the cities of Fredericksburg, Counties of Spotsylvania, Orange, Stafford, and Massaponax, as well as the surrounding areas, has grown exponentially in the past ten to twenty years. The population increases, along with the influx of schools, housing, and commercial development has brought about the development of strong and vital communities. This region is no longer seen as a “bedroom” community of Washington, DC, but rather, a community rich in its own opportunities and expectations. A population center in it is own right, the Rappahannock Region now demands its own cultural institutions and sustainable infrastructures. To that end, The Rappahannock POPS Orchestra was founded to provide live musical performance and hands on educational outreach for this lively area.
This goal has been prioritized by the board for completion during this calendar year. Currently, board members have begun collaborations with local businesses, including PNC Bank, Free Lance Star, Stafford Printing, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and local Rotary Clubs.
The arts, including music, have been in inseparable part of the human journey. We value the arts them for themselves, and because we do, we believe knowing and practicing them is fundamental to the healthy development of our children’s minds and spirits. We know from long experience that no one can claim to be truly educated who lacks basic knowledge and skills in music. An education in music also benefits society because students of the arts disciplines gain powerful tools to: understand human experiences; learn to adapt to and respect others’ ways of thinking, working, and expressing themselves; learn artistic modes of problem solving; understand the influence of music and its power to create and reflect cultures; communication their thoughts and feelings in a variety of modes; making decisions in situations were there are no standard answers. For all these reasons and more, music education and musical awareness is a core value for the Orchestra and its Board.
The Rappahannock POPS Orchestra is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Contributions are fully deductible.
©Rappahannock POPS Orchestra | PO Box 1662 | Fredericksburg, VA 22402 | 540.775.4452