Bertie Bialek Elliott has served in many capacities with the Monterey Symphony and has been attending and supporting the organization for over 35 years.
Monterey, CA, September 25, 2018 – Bertie Bialek Elliott has served in many capacities with the Monterey Symphony and has been attending and supporting the organization for over 35 years. Before the opening of the 73rd season of the Symphony, Bertie made the decision to give $2.4M to the Symphony’s endowment fund, ensuring a vibrant and healthy financial future for the organization. These endowment funds will be used to support the artistic and administrative vision of the organization. In honor of Bertie’s tremendous generosity, the Symphony has named these funds the BERTIE BIALEK ELLIOTT ENDOWMENT.
This transformational gift, along with a bequest received earlier this year from the MARGARET ANDERSON RADUNICH TRUST, has bolstered the institution financially. “It’s difficult to put into words what this gift means to the Symphony,” said Executive Director Nicola Samra. “Bertie’s generosity has reframed the conversation about the Symphony’s longevity. This gift is so unbelievably thoughtful and generous, I am just so ecstatic about it.”
Lee Rosen, Board President, echoed the sentiment, “Bertie and I have known each other for over 30 years and her devotion to the performing arts in our community during that time has been unwavering. We are thrilled that her confidence in the future of the Monterey Symphony led to this gift which will enable the Symphony to maintain its superb orchestral concerts and nurture its youth concerts for years to come.”
Bertie was inspired to give the gift after multiple conversations with the leadership of the Symphony. “I am so delighted to be able to give this gift at this time,” she said. “It’s wonderful to be able to strengthen an organization that I have been a part of for so long.”
The Monterey Symphony, founded in 1947, serves the diverse communities of the Monterey Peninsula through a subscription series at Sunset Center in Carmel and a wide reaching youth education program, Music for the Schools. During the 2018-19 season the Symphony will return to Salinas with two youth concerts reaching nearly 3,000 students. Additionally, the Symphony will present six youth concerts at Sunset Center, reaching 4,500 students. Every 3rd grader in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School district participates in the Symphony’s program, as well as every 5th grader in the Salinas Union School District. The Symphony recently received an award for Outstanding Non-Profit from the Non-Profit Alliance of Monterey County.
The Monterey Symphony opens its 73rd season, Sound Waves, on October 20th, 2018 with the world premiere of a commissioned work by 22-year old composer, Alex Berko. The work was commissioned in partnership with the Big Sur Land Trust and Berko spent a week in residence at the Glen Deven Ranch in Big Sur. Also on the program is Franz Schubert’s 9th Symphony, “The Great.” Tickets are available by calling 831-646-8511 or online at montereysymphony.org.
For press inquiries, please contact:
Nicola Samra
Executive Director, Monterey Symphony
831-645-1131 (direct)
Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
