SUPPORT SKYLARK
Dear friends of Skylark,
On this Giving Tuesday, I’m reflecting on what a remarkable year this has been for Skylark—and how grateful I am for the supporters who have made it all possible.
This week we’re releasing A Christmas Carol with Christine Baranski through LSO Live, in partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra. Our Clear Voices in the Dark album earned two GRAMMY® nominations this year, bringing us to six total. We debuted at the Met Cloisters to sold-out audiences and saw record attendance at our Memorial Day concert and Rachmaninoff Vespers performances.
And in just days, we embark on an epic two weeks of music-making—two programs, eight concerts across three states. We’ll perform in our beloved core communities around Boston and Westchester, but also at sold-out marquee venues including the Met Cloisters, the Morgan Library, and the Breakers in Newport.
None of this happens without you.
What strikes me most isn’t just the recognition we’ve earned—it’s how we’ve grown our artistic reach while staying rooted in the communities that have supported us from the beginning. From Westchester living rooms to Cape Cod host families to museum partnerships in New York, we’ve maintained something rare: world-class artistry built on genuine human connection.
As we head into our 15th anniversary season, I’m writing to ask if you’ll consider a year-end gift to Skylark—especially if our music has been a source of joy or inspiration for you this year.
Your support directly enables everything we do. A gift of $250 sponsors one artist for a full day of music-making. $1,000 secures a venue. $2,500 supports one artist for our complete season. $10,000 covers an entire concert experience. Even $100 makes a difference—covering childcare so an artist with young children can participate in a day of rehearsal. Every gift goes directly to the music.
If you feel moved to support Skylark before December 31st, please consider a donating online or by mail using the information below.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your belief in what we’re building means more than I can adequately express.
With gratitude,
Matthew Guard, Artistic Director
P.S. If you’d like to discuss your support or learn more about specific projects, please reach out. I’m always happy to talk about where Skylark is headed.
On this Giving Tuesday, I’m reflecting on what a remarkable year this has been for Skylark—and how grateful I am for the supporters who have made it all possible.
This week we’re releasing A Christmas Carol with Christine Baranski through LSO Live, in partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra. Our Clear Voices in the Dark album earned two GRAMMY® nominations this year, bringing us to six total. We debuted at the Met Cloisters to sold-out audiences and saw record attendance at our Memorial Day concert and Rachmaninoff Vespers performances.
And in just days, we embark on an epic two weeks of music-making—two programs, eight concerts across three states. We’ll perform in our beloved core communities around Boston and Westchester, but also at sold-out marquee venues including the Met Cloisters, the Morgan Library, and the Breakers in Newport.
None of this happens without you.
What strikes me most isn’t just the recognition we’ve earned—it’s how we’ve grown our artistic reach while staying rooted in the communities that have supported us from the beginning. From Westchester living rooms to Cape Cod host families to museum partnerships in New York, we’ve maintained something rare: world-class artistry built on genuine human connection.
As we head into our 15th anniversary season, I’m writing to ask if you’ll consider a year-end gift to Skylark—especially if our music has been a source of joy or inspiration for you this year.
Your support directly enables everything we do. A gift of $250 sponsors one artist for a full day of music-making. $1,000 secures a venue. $2,500 supports one artist for our complete season. $10,000 covers an entire concert experience. Even $100 makes a difference—covering childcare so an artist with young children can participate in a day of rehearsal. Every gift goes directly to the music.
If you feel moved to support Skylark before December 31st, please consider a donating online or by mail using the information below.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your belief in what we’re building means more than I can adequately express.
With gratitude,
Matthew Guard, Artistic Director
P.S. If you’d like to discuss your support or learn more about specific projects, please reach out. I’m always happy to talk about where Skylark is headed.
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 2025-2026 season include:
2025-2026 Artist Sponsorships
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Eric Alatorre
Sponsored by Christian Daviron Paul D’Arcy
Sponsored by Chrstine & Paul Szal Erik Gustafson
Sponsored by David Kwiatkowski & Ellen Richstone |
Nathan Hodgson
Sponsored by Neil & Laurie Jacob Helen Karloski
Sponsored by Christine & Paul Szal Sam Kreidenweis
Sponsored by Jeff & Beth Kreidenweis |
Sarah Moyer
Sponsored by Rick Gustafson Janet Stone
Sponsored by Mark & Rochelle Rosenberg Dana Whiteside
Sponsored by Michael McNaught |
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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