Legacy Circle News
March 2024
Dear SLSO Legacy Circle Members,
We are delighted to announce the return of Legacy Circle News, a special newsletter dedicated to you, the cherished members of SLSO’s Legacy Circle. This revival marks not just a continuation of our shared journey but also a renewed commitment to keeping you connected with the heart and soul of your St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
In this and upcoming editions, look forward to news, insights, and exclusive features. From behind-the-scenes glimpses to spotlights on how your contributions make an impact, we aim to provide relevant content that enriches your connection with the SLSO. Planned giving has been instrumental in sustaining the legacy of the SLSO, the second oldest orchestra in the country. Thank you for being an integral part of our musical family.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Jaclyn Stewart-Strothmann
Senior Director, Major Gifts & Planned Giving
636-399-7803 mobile | 314-286-4190 direct | jaclyns@slso.org
Save the Date: Legacy Circle Luncheon on June 27
Mark your calendars! We are excited to invite you to our annual Legacy Circle Luncheon, Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Algonquin Golf Club in Webster Groves. This special gathering is our way of honoring and celebrating your enduring commitment to the SLSO. Please save the date for an afternoon of appreciation, music, and community.
Your Gifts at Work: SLSO ACCESS Program Expands
The SLSO receives thousands of concert ticket requests every year from organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Beyond Housing, Pianos for People, and the Urban League to share with the clients they serve. SLSO ACCESS is a bold strategic alliance with these social service agencies to broaden access to live music.
In the first three months of the 23/24 season, we partnered with twelve organizations to bring live music to audience members from under-represented and under-served communities. The 1,880 tickets requested through November represented a 400+ increase over the same time the previous year. Charitable gifts have allowed us to dramatically expand this program since its inception, continuing our commitment to bringing music to all.
Powell Hall Progress
The project to renovate and expand Powell Hall, our nearly 100-year-old home, continues in order to preserve and enhance this civic treasure for generations to come. Stay up to date with project news and updates as we plan for our return to the revitalized building in 2025. We look forward to celebrating together with you!
In Good Company: The Legacy of Sarah Bryan Miller
The classical music critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sarah Bryan Miller, attended hundreds of concerts and events, forming deep relationships with SLSO musicians, staff, and patrons. Through her writing, she championed the SLSO and a number of other St. Louis arts organizations. As a journalist, however, it was not her policy to make a gift during her lifetime in order to remain impartial.
Following her passing, Bryan—as she was known to those close to her—was able to financially support the orchestra she loved dearly. Her generous support established the Sarah Bryan Miller Fund, an endowed fund that supports vocal soloists and underwrites performances of choral repertoire with the SLSO—a nod to her earlier career as a mezzo-soprano. “She certainly believed strongly in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and wanted to do everything she could to preserve, maintain, and improve it,” shared lifelong friend Bruce Ryder.
We are always looking for individuals who have an interest in sharing their personal connection to music, the SLSO, and motivation behind supporting the orchestra from a charitable perspective. Your stories help us connect with individuals through concert Playbills, this newsletter, and other communication channels.
Exciting Update on Charitable Gift Annuity Rates
We are pleased to announce benefits for our donors. Following the year-end decision by the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA), effective January 1, 2024, the return assumption rates for new charitable gift annuities has increased from 5.25% to 5.75%.
- Minimum Gift: Establish a charitable gift annuity at SLSO with a minimum of $25,000.
- Your Options: Choose from one-life, two-life, deferred, or flexible gift annuities.
Curious about how this giving vehicle benefits you and your St. Louis Symphony Orchestra? Request a tailored, zero-obligation financial illustration today!
Thank You, Legacy Circle Members!
With thousands of options, we are deeply grateful that you have made the SLSO a giving priority. In addition to including the SLSO in your charitable plans, many of you go even further with annual gifts that offer immediate support. Over 60% of Legacy Circle members made an outright gift within the past year. Your generosity now and in the future plays a critical role in sustaining the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. With charitable contributions supporting two-thirds of what it takes to fulfill our artistic, educational, and community mission, we’re grateful for your consideration of a gift to the Annual Fund this season.
This newsletter is intended for Legacy Circle members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Please feel free to share this with other music enthusiasts in your network.