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Concert group plans membership drive By Bill Varble Pianist Mia Chung is set to kick off the Jackson County Community Concert Association�s Great Artists Series 2001-2002 season in September in Medford. It�s the group�s 61st season, and association officials just hope it�s not one of the last. "Our problem is that membership is dropping off," says the association�s Ron Cochran. "Primarily due to an aging population and the fact that the younger people just don�t know about us � or possibly care about classical music." The association presents classical and other concerts, most of them at South Medford High School. Association members buy tickets for the whole season in advance by subscription; tickets aren�t sold for individual concerts. Tickets go on sale for the 2001-2002 season in a membership drive set for Feb. 3-10. Meanwhile, tickets remain on sale (they�re $45 general, $20 for students) for the four shows remaining in the 2000-2001 Great Artists Series. That includes the renowned Manhattan Chamber Orchestra Jan. 18, Gus Giordano�s Jazz Dance Chicago Feb. 20, the Santa Fe Opera Quartet March 26 and pianist Tian Jiang May 1. The season�s first show, a concert by baritone Joe Carter, took place in September. Chung was awarded the 1997 Avery Fisher Career Grant, probably the most prestigious award for young soloists in the United States. Coming in 2001-2002 in addition to Chung are The Thuringer Salonquintett in October, The Galaxy Trio in January, the dance troupe Frula in March and The Song Company in May. Specific dates for the 2001-2002 series shows have yet to be determined. The Manhattan Chamber Orchestra performs forgotten American masterpieces. Gus Giordano specializes in a repertoire of American dance designed to appeal to all ages. The Santa Fe Opera Quartet presents scenes from operas and musicals and a one-act opera. Tian Jiang was born in the chaos of China�s Cultural Revolution and rose to become a globe-trotting piano virtuoso and recording artist. Chung is a Juilliard product and one of America�s top young pianists. The Thuringer Salonquintett is a German group dedicated to the light music of Central Europe. The Galaxy Trio presents classics from Bach and Beethoven to George Gershwin and George Shearing. Frula�s mission is to make folk dances accessible to audiences. The Song Company is a vocal group from Australia. Cochran says the association has about 700 members, or about 200 fewer than the capacity of its venue at South. "We would like to attract a younger audience," he says. "But the response has been less than overwhelming." Hundreds of Community Concert associations were founded all over the country six decades ago as the Great Depression was giving way to the World War II years. "People would like to put on shows, but they didn�t know if they could fill a hall," Cochran says. "So they banded together and said if they sold the tickets ahead of time they knew it would be full." Over the years the Jackson County association presented artists such as guitarist Andres Segovia, pianists Ferante and Teicher and the famed Vienna Boys Choir. Individual shows typically haven�t received much media coverage because people can�t buy tickets for them. Cochran figures an aging audience for art music is perhaps the biggest challenge the group faces. And the solution? "We just have to get our message out to people who want to hear this sort of program," he says. "Some people have never heard of us. We�d like to get back to 900 members." The association relies largely on personal contact and word of mouth for publicity. Contact the group by calling 734-4116. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.