Dear Friend,
The days are shorter, darker, and sometimes cooler, and the calendar year is winding down. Along with our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers, we are embroiled in the holiday season in whatever form that takes for you and yours. In the Auburn Symphony Family, we are smack in the middle of our musical season since it goes from July to June, and it is truly shaping up to be a season of miracles. We continue the all-important journey of finding our next Music Director and Conductor by gearing up for the second audition concert on January 23, 2022, with Maestro Ryan Murray and guest artist Amaryn Olmeda. (If you don’t yet have your tickets, buy them here!)
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Your constant support through Giving Tuesday and year-end gifts is a much-appreciated foundation of our small nonprofit so that we keep the mission moving. Our youth education work, which took on a new look and feel (and sound!) by necessity is now reaching schools we haven’t touched in the past as well as longtime partners. We are having fun and taking great joy and comfort in strengthening our local community partnerships in the arts, a movement that is good for all of us. We look forward with confidence in planning future musical seasons that will allow us to return to some of our favorite community concerts, like the annual Messiah Sing-along that brings such joy at this time of year. Miracles, all! |
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In that same spirit, the December spotlight shines again on someone we first introduced to you in September 2020 as one of our dedicated Directors. Patty Wassum is the Principal Clarinet of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra, the Chair of our Music Director Search Committee, and oh, yes, she also has a full-time job as band teacher at two middle schools in Sacramento. This month we highlight Patty's additional and very critical role as Personnel Manager of the Auburn Symphony! A key position in our community orchestra, Patty ensures that we truly have the “right people on the bus and they are in the right seats” to quote a well-used axiom in the management of people.
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Patty has played clarinet with the orchestra for more than 11 years, and has also been Personnel Manager for the last four years. While community orchestras are primarily filled with volunteer musicians, it would be impractical to expect that whatever musicians desire to come play can comprise the orchestra we see on concert day. Working with the conductor and the programmed music, the Personnel Manager’s key responsibility is to ensure that there are the right number of musicians for each instrument group required. This involves building relationships and contacting other local musicians who are not regular members of the Auburn Symphony to join us for a program, rounding out that particular concert. It’s like finding the final puzzle pieces so that it all comes together beautifully and harmoniously. |
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Along the way there are other duties--working with the volunteer Music Librarian and the distribution of music, as well as the bowings for the string parts. To be successful, it takes a tremendous amount of organization—something Patty enjoys and credits her mother with teaching and instilling in her. Being prepared when she comes to rehearsal is the secret. She says, “Then I can take my seat, enjoy playing, and take pleasure in seeing it all come together and knowing I had a helping hand in another successful concert.” Well done. Thank you for all you do for us, Patty!
And thank YOU for all you do for our Auburn Symphony Family, and we hope to see you in the concert hall next month. Wishing you your very own miracles this season!
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Stephanie Snyder, President
Auburn Symphony Board of Directors
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Make a difference this holiday!
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2021/2022 Season Signature Sponsors
Bobbi Machado
Dr. Dwight & Mary Odom
Bob & Stephanie Snyder
2021/2022 Concertmaster Sponsors
Bud & LaRaine Beadles
Dean Prigmore & Patrice Taylor

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Auburn Symphony
Box 74, Auburn 95604
985 Lincoln Way, #102, Auburn 95603
530-823-6683

Tuesday - Friday / 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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