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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Tuesday Wounded, but not broken Emergency Services Get Up & Go: Dec. 16 Cases of chicken pox, whooping cough in Jackson County can put others at risk Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Police utilize social media to track down sex offender Man dies in early morning crash near Prospect Emergency services Lawsuits claim sexual assault and whistle-blower retaliation at OnTrack Politics and Elections Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means East Medford's the charm Education St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament A lesson in giving Hedrick student council works to clean up the language Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up Eagle Point superintendent invited to White House Environment No fish, no funding for problem dams Most residents speak against gas pipeline Coalition asks for defense of GMO ban Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Bighorn sheep reintroduced along Klamath River State News As deadline nears, Oregon's health insurance signups still low Gang-related shooting in Portland sends 3 youth to hospital GMO labeling proponents concede defeat Tribes can decide whether to legalize pot Lawyer says football player had altercation Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Lisa Marie Strom Janice Lynn Dahlen Death Notices Diana DeVoe Logan Ronald Bombick Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Payton gets triple-double in OSU romp Costly triumph Saints rout Bears, take lead in South Griffin, Jordan lead Clippers over Pistons Interim coach making most of situation Varsity 541 College Sports Payton gets triple-double in OSU romp No. 8 Gonzaga rolls over Texas Southern Marian presents big test for Raiders No. 3 Florida State turns to practice field Smith big in SOU’s rout of Pacific Union Pro Sports Costly triumph Saints rout Bears, take lead in South Griffin, Jordan lead Clippers over Pistons Deal puts Headley at third for Yanks, not A-Rod NFL’s top rusher, Murray, has broken hand Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Free lunchtime presentation covers business planning Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Juke Nismo Honda’s CR-V goes uptown again Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate Blog: It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like... Real Estate News Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate More sales, but no change in residential housing median price Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 People in Business, Nov. 18 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Our View: Ashland Hospital's remarkable turnaround Michael Gerson: For a politics of repair Granlund cartoon: Abandoned pets and Christmas Letters to the Editor, Dec. 15 Editorials Our View: Ashland Hospital's remarkable turnaround Our View: Councilors' criticism less troubling than secrecy Other Views: Riley leaves strong legacy at OSU Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Sentencing reform pays dividends Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 15 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 14 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 12 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 11 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Guest Opinion: It's time Oregon put a price on carbon Lifestyle Latest stories Dr. Elaine Heffner: ‘The Gift of the Magi’ Family Time: How to handle grief during the holidays Food for Thought: How to keep your kitchen organized during the holidays Blog: HAIKU MONDAY: On Steelhead Rumor Mill Neal Simon: A rivalry to die for Food Food for Thought: How to keep your kitchen organized during the holidays Kitchen Call: Shopping for the cook Community blog: Gobble gougeres as appetizers or with light meals Community blog: Choose presents cooks can cherish, not regift Roasted vegetables are rich, flavorful Home and Garden Home Help: Create a happy homemade holiday Rogue Valley Christmas light displays Remodeling your attic: Know the details before you start Dear Monty: When a lawyer’s fee is four times higher than the quote Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Health Community blog: Saving Lives Health Watch: Curb your kitchen cravings this holiday season Community blog: Unsubscribe.com Community blog: Redefining Family Dr. Murray Feingold: Say it like you mean it Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Milestones and Achievements Ashland celebrates 'Wild' screening with Cheryl Strayed Asante merger stabilizes Ashland hospital's finances Time running out for O&C funds Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories John Nilsen's holiday concerts kick off this week Ashland Blues Society hosts open jam TMTO's 'Christmas Carol' a big, warmhearted extravaganza Phil Newton & David Pinsky at 2Hawk Winery Live Music in Local Clubs Theater Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Theater review: 'Fiddler' charms audience in magical Camelot performance Music John Nilsen's holiday concerts kick off this week Ashland Blues Society hosts open jam Rating old-timers’ albums from 2014 Phil Newton & David Pinsky at 2Hawk Winery Handel's 'Messiah' set for this weekend Community Events Rogue Valley Christmas light displays It's a Hamazon holiday at the Playwright Public House 4 Things to do this Week Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Dining Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Ashland Hospital's remarkable turnaround ... Cases of chicken pox, whooping cough in Jackson County can put others at risk ... Cat shot with arrow, man jailed ... Our View: Ashland Hospital's remarkable turnaround ... Cases of chicken pox, whooping cough in Jackson County can put others at risk ... Cat shot with arrow, man jailed ... New music director boosted attendance at Britt's Classical Festival By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 26, 2014 @ 1:09 pm By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 26, 2014 @ 1:09 pm » Social News A big jump in attendance at Britt's Classical Festival buoyed the bottom line in the just-concluded 2014 concert season. In the inaugural year of new Britt Music Director Teddy Abrams' tenure, classical attendance averaged more than 1,400 each night, a 40 percent increase over the 1,000 nightly average that had held steady for more than a decade. It was the first time classical attendance exceeded 10,000 since 1998, when 11 classical concerts were presented. This year the number was reached in just seven concerts. "It was nothing short of amazing," Britt CEO Donna Briggs said. "It's the first time in a long time our revenue numbers were actually shored up by the classical. That's a big deal." The classical shows raised $195,000, far surpassing the revenue goal of $140,000 Britt had set for the August festival. Shows that sold out during the pops season were The Fray, Michael Franti, Pink Martini, Peter Frampton, The Beach Boys, The Avett Brothers and Creedence Clearwater Revisited. In addition, the classical season's Symphony Pops event sold out. Total attendance for the season was about 59,000, or 1,680 patrons per show, versus 61,000, or 1,735 a show in 2013. Britt's budget is $3.5 million, and although the year is not over, Briggs said she believes Britt is "on target" to finish in the black. Last year was the first time Britt was in the black since the 2006 season. Briggs attributed a great deal of the classical success to Abrams, who programmed a mix of the standard classical repertoire and newer works. "We took some risks," she said. "But his vision and leadership steered the ship." Highlights included the world premiere of a new work composed by Abrams, well-received appearances by guest artists Storm Large and Béla Fleck and the sold-out Symphony Pops concert. Briggs said she believes that for many patrons, the 2014 season will be remembered as one of improvements to Britt's physical plant. Upgrades centered around construction of a new performance garden that included a mini-amphitheater with a small stage, a concessions building and both table and lawn seating. The performance garden is the new home of a pre-concert music series and pre-concert talks by Abrams and others during the Classical Festival. Ten stand-alone performances were presented on the Performance Garden stage, including educational showcases, performances by local and up-and-coming artists, participatory programs and several free events. Construction also included a new plaza at the entry to the Britt Park, new bus parking, and improved Americans with Disabilities Act parking and access with new ADA pathways. The improvements were the most significant construction project at Britt since the reserved bench seating was added in 1987, Briggs said. Construction was completed just in time for the summer season. "For the first time ever, we saw people with disabilities park in an ADA lot, come up the ramp and go through the gate all the way up to the concession, get a beverage and take it to their seat," Briggs said. "We haven't been able to witness that until now." Ticket sales cover just 60 percent of Britt’s operating expenses, on average, for the pops season, and 33 percent for the Classical Festival. As a nonprofit organization, Britt relies on contributed income to cover the gap. Business partners contributed $230,000 this year, a 7 percent increase over 2013, and a record breaking number for the third year in a row. Britt started an ambitious new program called Arts Career Exploration with a $28,500 grant from the Oregon Arts Commission . It’s a year-long internship program for 13 underserved high school juniors and seniors from the Medford School District, designed to introduce them to the professional elements of an artistic/creative career field. The program will continue through 2015, culminating with a student-curated performance next spring. Britt's Classical Festival lineup will be announced Feb. 5, and the full season lineup will be announced next spring. Reach freelance writer Bill Varble at [email protected] . By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 26, 2014 @ 1:09 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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