A Message from
Guitar Society President
William Ash

To Our Patrons,

There's excitement going on within our organization! With the help of so many of you, we have met our goal of $10,000 for "Kathy's Fund"--our new endowment tribute fund in honor and memory of the contributions of Kathy Ash. It serves as a foundation for future growth and long-term security for the organization. Contributions may still be made at anytime, please just go to "KJEA Memorial Fund" under "About Us."

In other news, our membership has doubled, and our new Members' Gatherings are garnering strong support, with attendance of close to 100 for each of our events in January and May (see our accounts of these with pictures under Membership: Events). The enthusiasm has led to the founding of our new Guitar Society Orchestra--14 members strong!-- now available to play for community causes.

Last December we were one of just two Missouri organizations to receive $10,000 of support from the Challenge America program of the National Endowment for the Arts for our morning performances benefiting St. Louis city public school students and their teachers. And just recently--due to the support of several private donors, a grant from the Old Newsboys Day Fund, and the cooperation of Music Folk-- we have just donated twenty classical guitars to Central VPA High School for their music program (see more under Education/Outreach: Public School Guitar Initiative)!

This website is now getting three times the number of visitors as it did a year ago, and we are gradually expanding our educational materials, community outreach and on-line marketing. Eighty percent of our single ticket sales are now online. And our concerts at the Ethical Society are now approaching consistent sell-outs.

You'll notice that among this seasons's offerings is the phenomenal Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ), presented in cosponsorship with the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences at Washington University, and presented in the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, 560 Trinity at Delmar in the University City loop (formerly CASA and the Webster Community Music School). We are giving you a special incentive to subscribe to our Great Artist Series by requiring that orders for tickets to the LAGQ directly from us prior to October 10 must be accompanied by a subscription.* Order by September 1 to receive the best seats available in your section! We also encouraging you to become a member this year by sponsoring a special members-only reception for the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet in the Ballroom Theater immediately after the performance. Please join us for another great season!