The Palm Beach Pops to Cease Current Concert Season Following Death of Bob Lappin, Future Focus: Music Education in the Schools

The Palm Beach Pops, Florida’s premier Pops orchestra, will cease regularly scheduled concert operations for the 2013-2014 concert season, but continue to emphasize its  focus on  music education in schools.

“With the unfortunate passing of Maestro Bob Lappin, the board of directors unanimously chose to move forward honoring his legacy by emphasizing music education in the schools.  The board believes that we owe it to the community and to Maestro Lappin’s work over the last two decades to preserve the organization’s assets as opposed to operating at a deficit,” explained Executive Director and board member David Quilleon. “After 21 years together, our musicians, technical staff, subscribers and performers have become like family. We are deeply saddened that we will not see them as frequently, but expect to work with them on future music programs, concerts and fundraising events.”

All patrons who purchased a 2013-14 subscription will have the option to either accept a refund by mail, or for those who believe in the Pops’ mission, donate the funds to support music education programs.  The Palm Beach Pops box office will be working to speak with all subscribers over the next few weeks.

The Palm Beach Pops plans to continue and expand its educational programs, which promote music in the classroom for elementary school students in Palm Beach County’s underserved districts.  The Music and You program correlates music with social studies, literature, character education, science and math.  It enables students to develop an understanding of the rudiments of melody, harmony and rhythm by listening to a variety of music, including Bach, Mozart, Gershwin, Duke Ellington and even more contemporary music such as the theme from Harry Potter and the Simpsons. To date, approximately 90,000 children have participated in the program.

“Though we have sadly lost our beloved Maestro Bob Lappin, we will be able to continue our mission as a result of his careful financial oversight and fiscal responsibility,” said Palm Beach Pops Vice President Patricia Becker, a member of the board of directors for 20 years.  “This will enable us to continue using our superb musicians in school and educational programs as well as for special concerts which we may present.  Bob Lappin could not have left a finer legacy.”

The Palm Beach Pops remains one of only a handful of financially sound arts organizations in the country. Unfortunately, performing arts organizations across the country have experienced significant challenges over the past decade,   struggling with dwindling attendance and donations, shrinking endowment income, the recession and an aging audience.

According to the New York Times, national orchestra subscription sales have dropped continually for the past several years, negatively impacting the country’s largest and most popular performing arts organizations.

The League of American Orchestras suggests that one of the major reasons for these declines is because music education is no longer present or supported by our culture, school systems or government.  Research conducted by The National Endowment for the Arts also supports a correlation between the drops in orchestral concert attendance with the cuts to school arts programs.  These trends and statistics are contributing reasons why the Board decided to cease concert operations for the 2013-2014 season.

Becker said, “While we recognize that dwindling and aging audiences, fewer grants and sponsorships and the tough economy all play a part in the struggle orchestras face, We are particularly concerned about the cuts in arts funding to our schools.  Therefore, our organization plans to attack the root of the problem and bring American music back into local schools.  This has been and will continue to be part of our mission as we move forward.”

Though not on a regularly scheduled basis, The Palm Beach Pops will look forward to performing future concerts locally and nationally. The organization will continue to focus on fundraising to support what has always been its mission, preserving the great American Songbook and providing music education opportunities to local children.