by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The Rotary Club of Jacksonville welcomed one of its own to the keynote speaker podium at the club’s meeting Monday.
Stacy Ridenour is the executive director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. She moved into her office in the orchestra’s administrative suite at the Times-Union Center in October, 2008. Soon after Ridenour transferred her Rotary Club membership from a club in Kalamazoo, Mich. where she served as executive director of that city’s orchestra.
Ridenour was introduced by club Past President Carl Cannon, who took a few moments to apprise the members about developments at Touchdown Jacksonville’s “Revive the Pride” program to sell season tickets to Jacksonville Jaguars games. Cannon chairs the group which also includes Tony Boselli — the team’s first-ever draft pick in 1995 — who is serving as Team Teal commissioner.
He urged his fellow Rotarians to get involved with the ticket drive. “We’re in danger of losing the Jaguars if we don’t do something,” he said.
Cannon then introduced Ridenour and part of his remarks recounted two things he did in 1994. That year he served as president of two organizations: the Jacksonville Symphony Association and the Gator Bowl Association.
“Two of the most important things in Jacksonville are the Jaguars and the symphony,” said Cannon.
“It’s great to think of the Jaguars and the symphony as Jacksonville’s home teams,” remarked Ridenour, who then saluted the city for being able to celebrate the orchestra’s 60th season. She said JSYM (the new acronym for the orchestra that was introduced this season to eliminate confusing the symphony with the police department) is one of only three full-time professional orchestras in Florida.
“It is quite an accomplishment to create and then sustain an orchestra,” said Ridenour.
This year also marks the 10th season for Music Director Fabio Mechetti, who was one of Ridenour’s guests at the meeting.
She then pointed out the orchestra’s many-faceted mission, particularly in the area of education. Of the organization’s $8 million operating budget, $1 million is devoted to educational and outreach programs.
“It is so important for the arts to be part of basic education. Studies have shown that students who are involved in music do better in school,” said Ridenour.
Each year more than 30,000 pre-secondary school students attend concerts at Jacoby Symphony Hall. The symphony’s musicians perform more than 200 concerts each year at elementary and middle schools and senior centers. Guest artists regularly hold master classes at Jacksonville University and Florida State College at Jacksonville for young local musicians and more than 350 young people participate in the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra.
“The symphony is also a catalyst for economic development and creating a vibrant Downtown. Last year 350,000 people attended events at the Times-Union Center and 200,00 of them went to hear the symphony,” said Ridenour
She also spoke of the financial impact of the 53 musicians and association staff and stated, “Most of our budget stays right here and contributes to the local economy.”
Before Ridenour went to the podium, Downtown Rotary past president and Jacksonville University Chancellor Emeritus Fran Kinne introduced the club’s newest member.
Matt Kane graduated from JU in 2001 with a degree in computer information systems, followed that with his MBA at the University of Florida and now owns Greenshades Software, a company that provides software and IT services for human resources departments. He’s also held every position with JU’s alumni association and recently joined the university’s board of trustees as its youngest member ever.
“The experiences teachers have with their students are wonderful but the experience of seeing what they do later in life is an even greater reward,” said Kinne.
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