The Board’s Corner
As we approach the end of our 2020-2021 season, the Board of Directors wants to take a moment to reflect on the successes our team – staff, choristers and families, and volunteers – achieved over the past year. And not just any year, but one filled with loneliness, confusion and fear caused by the pandemic.
Let us think back to April 2020 and the start of the shutdown. We were lost and unsure of the direction we needed to take. Yet our team stepped up and worked incredibly hard to, not just move our in-person programming online, but create engaging performance and rehearsal opportunities for our choristers. All while maintaining social distancing standards per CDC guidelines. The results are truly nothing short of exceptional.
Despite the many struggles the MCC has faced, we have found successes. For example, an average of 300 individuals attends MCC in-person concerts. The night Family: A Virtual Concert premiered, we saw more than 500 viewers. Since the premiere date, the concert has been viewed over 5,000 times. Creating virtual events will certainly be mimicked next season, offering online concert programming even once it is safe to gather in one room together again.
The pandemic also has our Board of Directors reviewing and reconsidering our strategic plan. Currently, we are in the process of completing a refresh, helping to better focus our efforts on a clear set of goals and tasks with the effects of the pandemic in mind. Ultimately, the goal of our strategic plan is to continue to enrich the experiences the MCC provides to choristers and expand the reach of the MCC throughout the Milwaukee area.
While the 2020-2021 season is winding down, it is not over yet! The MCC will close out the season with one of the most ambitious, creative collaboration in our 27-year history. The concert will not just showcase MCC singers, but will feature artists from “Sesame Street,” Broadway’s “Aladdin,” local performers, and MCC alumnus Graycie Gardner. The pre-recorded virtual experience will premiere on Facebook Live and YouTube on May 15.
The virtual concert will also be the finale of our Give2Sing fundraising campaign. Starting April 30, the campaign goal is to raise $10,000 to help turn limitations caused by COVID-19 into opportunities for our singers. Throughout Give2Sing, we will share behind-the-scenes looks of MCC choristers continuing their passion for music despite singing apart. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for this inside look or visit our website to learn more.
As we look ahead to planning for next season, we still face uncertainty regarding how COVID-19 will affect our operations. As a result, we anticipate planning for both in-person and virtual events. Of course, our first concern is the safety of our choristers and families and will plan the season with this priority in mind. Regardless of the uncertainty, we look forward to a fulfilling 2021-2022 MCC season!
Again, the MCC Board of Directors wants to thank everyone who contributed to making the 2020-2021 season an amazing success, including our singers and families, staff, volunteers, donors and other contributors. The MCC Board of Directors could not be prouder of what we accomplished together as a team.