SUPPORT SKYLARK
November 1, 2024
Dear Friends of Skylark,
As we step into this new season, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible journey Skylark has embarked on with your support. We’ve not only emerged from the unique challenges of recent years but are now experiencing an invigorating surge in our artistic momentum.
This past year has been filled with milestones: our collaboration with superstar jazz pianist Dan Tepfer and the New York City Children’s Chorus, our three-concert residency at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library, and our upcoming debut at the Metropolitan Museum Cloisters this December. Additionally, our annual free concert on Cape Cod, which coincided with the release of our 11th album, Clear Voices in the Dark, was our best-attended concert ever, showcasing the power of community and music. We also had the joy of bringing together storyteller Sarah Walker and cellist Thomas Barth for the first time, combining virtuosic cello playing with Skylark's voices to create a rich, story score that highlighted the enchanting humor and eerie charm of Sleepy Hollow.
Thanks largely to the generosity of supporters like you, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. With this renewed energy, we have the chance to significantly expand our artistic offerings and make an even greater impact.
At Skylark, we believe in the transformative power of collective creativity and collaboration. Our mission is to create and perform programs of stunning vocal beauty that inspire and engage our audiences. Your past support has directly empowered us to bring bold new projects to life, deepen our connections with local communities, and provide our talented artists with the resources they need to flourish. For instance, your donations have helped support innovative collaborations like our upcoming performance of A Christmas Carol at the Morgan Library, narrated by Christine Baranski, which sold out in a day and will feature the original Charles Dickens hand-written manuscript on display before the performance.
Your presence at our concerts and your support have already made you a vital part of Skylark’s story. To learn more about our vision for the future, I invite you to visit our strategic plan. Together, we will explore new creative horizons and continue to bring beauty and inspiration to our community. Thank you for being an essential part of Skylark.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Matthew Guard, Artistic Director
Dear Friends of Skylark,
As we step into this new season, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible journey Skylark has embarked on with your support. We’ve not only emerged from the unique challenges of recent years but are now experiencing an invigorating surge in our artistic momentum.
This past year has been filled with milestones: our collaboration with superstar jazz pianist Dan Tepfer and the New York City Children’s Chorus, our three-concert residency at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library, and our upcoming debut at the Metropolitan Museum Cloisters this December. Additionally, our annual free concert on Cape Cod, which coincided with the release of our 11th album, Clear Voices in the Dark, was our best-attended concert ever, showcasing the power of community and music. We also had the joy of bringing together storyteller Sarah Walker and cellist Thomas Barth for the first time, combining virtuosic cello playing with Skylark's voices to create a rich, story score that highlighted the enchanting humor and eerie charm of Sleepy Hollow.
Thanks largely to the generosity of supporters like you, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. With this renewed energy, we have the chance to significantly expand our artistic offerings and make an even greater impact.
At Skylark, we believe in the transformative power of collective creativity and collaboration. Our mission is to create and perform programs of stunning vocal beauty that inspire and engage our audiences. Your past support has directly empowered us to bring bold new projects to life, deepen our connections with local communities, and provide our talented artists with the resources they need to flourish. For instance, your donations have helped support innovative collaborations like our upcoming performance of A Christmas Carol at the Morgan Library, narrated by Christine Baranski, which sold out in a day and will feature the original Charles Dickens hand-written manuscript on display before the performance.
Your presence at our concerts and your support have already made you a vital part of Skylark’s story. To learn more about our vision for the future, I invite you to visit our strategic plan. Together, we will explore new creative horizons and continue to bring beauty and inspiration to our community. Thank you for being an essential part of Skylark.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Matthew Guard, Artistic Director
Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Inc. (EIN 47-4051377) is a non-profit corporation and has been granted 501(c)(3) tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.
Your donations are thus tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Your donations are thus tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
To donate by mail, simply make your check payable to “Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Inc” and mail to:
Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Inc.
417 Cantitoe St
Bedford Hills, NY 10507
Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Inc.
417 Cantitoe St
Bedford Hills, NY 10507
Artist Sponsorship
Skylark is proud to introduce the Artist Sponsorship Program, a unique opportunity for supporters to sponsor the participation of individual artists in our concert season. Created by Skylark supporter Rick Gustafson, this program allows donors to support the exceptional talent and artistry of the musicians who bring depth and beauty to our performances. Artists who are generously sponsored for the 2024-2025 season include:
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Sarah Moyer
Sponsored by Rick Gustafson Carrie Cheron
Sponsored by Alan & Louise Hoblitzell |
Dana Whiteside
Sponsored by Michael McNaught Erik Gustafson
Sponsored by Ellen Richstone & David Kwiatkowski |
Megan Roth
Sponsored by James Vernon Sam Kreidenweis
Sponsored by Christine & Paul Szal |
Janet Stone
Sponsored by Susan Morse |
Babies of Skylark Campaign
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With four new Skylark babies born in the last year, we are launching a campaign to raise the funds to support these new parents in their careers as musicians, and in their new roles as parents. Skylark is committed to being the most artist-friendly ensemble in the business: including encouraging artists to bring infant children, and an additional family members, with them to projects, and finding donors to sponsor the cost of providing family-friendly support.
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Testimonials from new Skylark parents:
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"Path of Miracles was the first singing I have done since the birth of my son, and I was only able to do so thanks to the generosity of Skylark in providing accommodations and childcare support. I was able to bring my infant son along for the whole week, and fly my mom in to look after him while we were rehearsing and performing! It's difficult to figure out how to sustainably combine a singing career with the responsibilities of caring for a little one - each of us singers has put years into practicing and perfecting our craft, and unfortunately it often feels like we need to put this investment, and our careers, on hold in order to become parents. Skylark is ahead of the curve in providing a solution - they allow our personal and singing lives to coexist by encouraging us to bring our families on contracts! I am so very thankful that Skylark sees and takes care of the whole person, and treats us and our loved ones like family." - Fotina Naumenko
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"Skylark has been providing care and consideration for working parents, like no other group has. As a freelancer, oftentimes my wife and I are scrambling to find coverage to help with our little one at home, and because my schedule is pretty inconsistent, it can be tricky to make it all work with a baby at home, especially needing to travel away for most of my work. Skylark is the only ensemble that I work with that offers lodging, travel, food and childcare expenses for not only the parent, but the baby and its caregiver as well. This has allowed my son to travel with me during several Skylark projects that otherwise would have been impossible for me to attend, as I have been his primary caregiver these last several months. This is truly unexplored territory in the world of arts organizations, and Skylark is leading the way in such an incredible way to allow young parents to continue to work, while also caring for their young babies!" - Michael Hawes
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