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 Dear Friends,
Welcome to the 2011-2012 season at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre!
Every year we ask ourselves how we will top the previous year's line-up ... luckily for us, there is never any shortage of amazing talent ready to perform on the GPAC stage! This year we bring you legendary talent such as Tommy Tune and Stanley Clarke, new talent such as Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, the 5 Browns and Yeol eum Son, past favorites such as Capitol Steps, David Sedaris, Jose Porcel, Red Priest, Swan Lake, and Diavolo, and killer talent such as Poncho Sanchez, Terence Blanchard, and Bela Fleck & The Flecktones.
ART is all about personal preferences and it makes me proud that GPAC can provide such diverse artists and art forms. By attending our events you are sometimes pushed to new experiences. Every now and then, you'll discover something magical for yourself. And, in that fine line, is where we best fulfill our mission... "To present the highest quality artistic endeavors, to engage, enrich, and transform."
Over the past 5 years, GPAC has experienced tremendous growth and success. Our programming has tripled, our education programs have increased 279%, we started the GPAC Youth Symphony Orchestra which just returned from a life-changing trip to China, and we are in the planning process for an expansion of our facilities. This success is only possible thanks to your support.
Our stage will be burning bright with amazing artists all year long. We hope you will join us!
Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, Executive Director
Germantown Performing Arts Centre Mission
GPAC serves the community by presenting the highest quality artistic endeavors to engage, enrich, and transform.
GPAC History
Eighteen years ago, GPAC began a tradition of excellence in the arts with a performance by the legendary Ray Charles. Today, GPAC is the place where all the major artists, in many different genres, come together to perform. From Yo-Yo Ma to Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck to Joan Baez, Joshua Bell to Ravi Shankar, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater to Mikhail Baryshnikov, It's Happening at GPAC!
The GPAC mission is to serve the community by presenting the highest quality artistic endeavors to engage, enrich and transform. We are an acoustically perfect, 824 seat venue featuring a main stage, an intimate black box theatre, an elegant green room, spacious dressing rooms and a grand lobby for entertaining and assembling. Located in the heart of Shelby County, GPAC welcomes 64,000 citizens to our theatre annually for performances, educational activities, visual art exhibits and community events. GPAC benefits from the infrastructure of a professional organization that possesses a clear direction, strong financial health, and a committed board of directors, dedicated staff, and volunteers. In all of its endeavors - quality and array of artists presented, educational programs, marketing initiatives, fund raising efforts, financial viability, community involvement, reaching underserved audiences - GPAC works diligently to fulfill its mission.
GPAC provides a full subscription series of performances each season, as well as a rehearsal/performance venue for many arts groups, including the IRIS Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Memphis, Germantown Symphony Orchestra, and Germantown Chorus.
GPAC has a strong commitment to education and engages an Educational Outreach Coordinator dedicated to developing and expanding GPAC's overall community education/outreach. As a result, over the last five years educational programming has grown by 279% including new programs like per-ballet classes, Suzuki music, adult ArtSavvy art experiences, guitar, GPAC Journeys, and summer dance/art camps. Additionally, two years ago, GPAC founded a youth symphony with 35 student musicians. Today, the program has approximately 105 members ages 7 to 19 and performs twice yearly on the GPAC stage. It is a full orchestra consisting of strings, winds, brass, percussion, harp, and keyboard. One of its goals is to expose the students to performing and learning opportunities abroad. As such, the youth orchestra just completed a cultural and educational tour of China.
The Jazz in the Box (JIB) series was introduced in the 2006/2007 season to sold out audiences. This popular little jazz club is held in GPAC's Black Box Theatre on the third Friday of the month and to date has served nearly 3,500 patrons. Following on the heels of the success of JIB, we are introducing The Music Box featuring some of the most exciting classical musicians in the region also in the casual intimacy of GPAC's Black Box.
GPAC's celebrated Peanut Butter & Jam (PBJ) music education program marks its 16th season with exciting programs to introduce children, ages 8 and under, to a wide variety of musical instruments and styles. Sessions are held on select Saturday mornings throughout the concert season. Attendance at PBJ has increased three-fold.
GPAC at a Glance
· GPAC is an 824-seat, acoustically perfect concert venue presenting world-class artists in classical music, dance, jazz, world music, comedy, musical theatre and family programming.
· GPAC is governed by an 18 member Board of Directors and managed by a dedicated professional staff.
· GPAC has experienced tremendous growth and success over the last five seasons. Programming has tripled, a financial reserve created, volunteer programs strengthened, and educational programming increased 279%.
· GPAC utilized 161 volunteers last season representing nearly 5,000 volunteer hours. This includes 100 volunteer ushers, board members, advisory committee members and a 40 member performing arts support Guild.
· GPAC has turned a $500,000 deficit into a $200,000 reserve over the last five seasons despite uncertain economic conditions.
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