Philanthropy Today
Philanthropy Today
Symphony in the Flint Hills on the GMCF Community Hour Show Episode - 210
The Symphony in the Flint Hills prepares for its final concert on June 14th after 20 remarkable years of bringing music to the Kansas prairie. This signature event has faced growing challenges, including weather disruptions and rising costs, but remains committed to celebrating and raising awareness about one of the last tallgrass prairies in the world.
• Started when Jane Coger hosted the Kansas City Symphony on her property for a birthday celebration
• Final event will be held at the Evans property in Chase County on June 14, 2024
• General admission tickets sold out, but patron packages and sponsorships are still available
• Creates a temporary "city" in remote prairie locations with stages, tents, and amenities
• Features the Kansas City Symphony, Logan Mize, educational tents, a powwow, and stargazing
• The organization hopes to continue its mission of promoting the Flint Hills through other programs
• Has attracted visitors from every state and around the world over its 20-year history
• Weather challenges and rising costs, especially insurance, contributed to the decision to end
• Board Chair Mary Ice hopes the symphony's legacy will be "being remembered for having done it well."
For more information or to purchase remaining patron packages, visit symphonyintheflinthills.org or call the office in Cottonwood Falls.
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. In this episode we feature a recently broadcast segment of the GMCF Community Hour as heard on NewsRadio KMAN. Welcome back to the GMCF Community Hour here at 1039, and we've got a few minutes. Here we're going to learn more about the symphony and the Flint Hills, and, my goodness, this is quite a story to tell. And the person here to tell the story is Mary Ice, who's chair of the board of the symphony. And welcome to the GMCF community hour, Mary.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks, Dave. I'm glad to be here. It's always fun to talk about the symphony and the Flint Hills, especially when we're having a beautiful day in the Flint Hills. Especially when we're having a beautiful day in the Flint.
Speaker 1:Hills it is. I drove up to Lawrence last week. It's such a beautiful time to drive through.
Speaker 2:It really is. It was all black two weeks ago. And we drove that way this weekend and it was just green and lush and what we expect.
Speaker 1:Well, there is quite a history to the symphony and I don't know if you're aware of this, but I was emcee of the Symphony on the Flint Hills a couple years, yes, and really enjoyed that role and just have a tremendous appreciation for this. But this thing is just stoked in tradition.
Speaker 2:It really is so the way that it started. Jane Coger had the symphony out to her property to celebrate a significant birthday many years ago and so many people who heard about it or attended decided that that was such a phenomenal opportunity to get people out into the Flint Hills and to understand what goes on in this part of the world. That's so special to all of us that they decided to form an organization and each year we pay the Kansas City Symphony to come out and perform for people who are our patrons, our general admission and sponsors. And it is in a different location almost every year and a really special time.
Speaker 1:There are a lot of possible locations, because you like to have it in an area that is really isolated from the rest of the world no paved roads, there's paths to get out there, and you are just really stuck in the middle of glory.
Speaker 2:Well, and it's interesting because Catherine McPhee performed, I believe, last year and she had no idea. You know, she's an actress, a singer, She'd been on Broadway and she said she had no idea when they told her the middle of nowhere, that they really meant the middle of nowhere and it was. It was in a pasture on the Evans property just south of the Turnpike in the Cassidy area, and it is amazing what our staff and volunteers and other people we contract with can get set up. It is like setting up a city in a week and it's gone shortly thereafter.
Speaker 1:You know that's a Herculean effort by all those that are involved, and you go from location to location. Where is the 2025 version of Symphony going to be?
Speaker 2:Well, the 2025 Symphony in the Flint Hills will be held on the Evans property and we're going back to Chase County and it is at approximately Kansas Highway 177 and US 50 between Emporia and Strong City, if you're familiar with that area.
Speaker 1:I am. Are tickets still available?
Speaker 2:We have sold out of all of our general admission tickets. However, we have sponsorships and patron packages that are still available.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you can still get in.
Speaker 2:Can still get in, and it is something not to miss, because this is our 20th anniversary and our finale.
Speaker 1:And let's talk a bit about that, because there's a lot of history to this when you consider what you've been able to accomplish over 20 years in bringing something truly special to the Flint Hills and I know that we have a lot of supporters of the symphony here in and around the Manhattan area but this has to be very bittersweet that this is coming to a conclusion.
Speaker 2:It is bittersweet. This has grown into such a phenomenal event and we've had people probably from every state in the nation and around the world come. There's so many things that we feel like we've accomplished in bringing our message to height and awareness of the Flint Hills to people. It is bittersweet that we are having to say goodbye to our signature event, which is the event when we have the symphony come out and play, but we are hopeful that we'll be able to continue providing some of our other programming.
Speaker 2:For example, we have art in the gallery in Cottonwood Falls right now. That is part of the art show that is coinciding with the actual signature event. We in the past have had a camp for children at Camp Wood so they could learn more about music and musical events and other things that we feel we've done in the community to help get the word out about what a special place the Flint Hills is and help people understand what our ranchers have done to keep the Flint Hills intact. It hasn't been land that anyone has really wanted to see go away and it's a very it's some of the last standing tall grass prairie in the world and we really need to protect it. That's also been part of our mission to get that message out.
Speaker 1:There is a tremendous awareness opportunity here.
Speaker 2:There really is.
Speaker 1:Let's talk a bit about some of the logistics when you bring this in, because there's this big stage, there's this huge tent and you've got all kinds of things that you know, that you know from dining and you know having libations and displaying art, and then you got parking and all kinds of other things. So let's talk a bit about some of those logistical challenges that you have with the Symphony and the Flint Hills.
Speaker 2:Well, every year because we go to a different site, we have different challenges. We have to make sure that we have adequate parking, we have to have an adequate flat area for the tents, and then we have our educational tents that have a lot of information, that are shared by specialists in their fields throughout the afternoon. We have to make sure that we're working with the county officials to know that we have ambulance service available, that we have other safety procedures in place and those things are very carefully taken into consideration.
Speaker 1:It takes a lot of people to put this on it takes a lot of people.
Speaker 2:We have a wonderful staff. They have done a great job and we have so many great volunteers that step up, and we also have a great board of directors. They are really wonderful people who have worked to support this organization and care a lot about making sure things go well.
Speaker 1:You and your husband Carl have been a part of a lot of organizations that have been very, you know, supportive of things here in the community and also with Kansas State and in other areas. What does being a part of the Symphony on the Flint Hills mean to you as board chair and being a member of this effort?
Speaker 2:I think it's been a real treat to see the type of people who have. I'm kind of struggling for it because I don't want to get emotional about this. We didn't grow up in agriculture. Carl grew up in Topeka and I grew up in Baxter Springs and even though we went to K-State we weren't part of the ag college. We were in engineering and what is now health and human sciences. So we didn't have that experience to understand and know what it takes to raise crops, but most certainly in the Flint Hills, to take care of the land, and our ranchers have done an incredible job of that. So I think through this organization and other opportunities since we've retired here, we've really learned a lot about what a special place it is, even beyond what we knew already.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, that's wonderful. This is the final, it's the signature event, and so what do you hope the legacy of the Symphony of the Flint Hills will be?
Speaker 2:Well, my hope for the legacy is that we'll always be remembered for having done it well. We feel that as time has gone on, we have added things to it and there may be a few changes that we've made, but we've consistently provided a great product for the community and it's something that so many people look forward to doing time and again. But it's also on some people's bucket list and it should be a bucket list that is just overflowing when you have a chance to come out to this. I would hope that our legacy is being remembered again for having done it well, but that we'll find ways as an organization to continue to promote the Flint Hills and heighten appreciation and awareness of the Flint Hills.
Speaker 1:You know, there's been a lot of different attributes that the symphony has had, has, you know, conquered in a lot of respects. I was part of the event that was on the Fort Riley grounds and that's probably been what 10, 12 years or so.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:But that was just marvelous. And then I was at one there was in Chase County as well, and and I haven't been able to be able to participate or attend any of the others. But it's just such a it's almost a spiritual thing, and I bet it has to mean a lot to not only the attendees and the volunteers, the people that are on staff, but also the people that are performing.
Speaker 2:I think that's really true. I think of musicians a lot of times as being people who spend more time indoors, certainly than ranchers and a lot of people in this community, and that may be something that I'm ignorant about, but for them to have the opportunity to perform in one of the most beautiful parts of God's world has to just be a very moving experience for all of them be a very moving experience for all of them.
Speaker 1:Mary, do you have some plans in the works for something in the future for this effort, whether it be the symphony as your marquee event or some other efforts?
Speaker 2:There are a group of people who are looking into some of the opportunities that we would hope we could provide going forward. I don't think that anything is in concrete at this point, but we do have a dedicated group that really would like to see the organization continue and we are hopeful that that can happen.
Speaker 1:That had to be difficult to come to this decision to end the effort.
Speaker 2:It was very difficult. There are a variety of factors. Weather, as many of you know, is always a consideration.
Speaker 1:We had a very bad episode here a few years ago.
Speaker 2:We had a very bad episode. Unfortunately, no injuries of any significance. Quite an experience for those of us who are in the parking lot, but we always have the National Weather Service on site and they are giving us constant updates and their decisions that have to be made. Yes, there have been some challenges along the way, but it's definitely something that's been worthwhile and we really wanted to see it make it to the 20th anniversary.
Speaker 1:Has there been some financial challenges associated with the effort.
Speaker 2:There certainly have. I think one of the things if you're having any type of an outdoor festival, the weather is hugely dependent. We had a very difficult year with COVID because we had to cancel. The year prior to that we had a microburst and that was a devastating blow. Those things are really hard financially and in today's world people have lots of opportunities where they spend their money and lots of choices to make and you know we are at a good price point, we feel, for the product that we offer. But people have generally been very generous but we are seeing as time moves on, it's becoming more and more expensive to produce this event.
Speaker 1:You know I do a lot of work with events and I know that one of the factors has been liability insurance. Yes, sir, and that is something that I don't do a lot of work with events and I know that one of the factors has been liability insurance.
Speaker 1:Yes, sir, and that is something that I don't think a lot of people realize what, how massively expensive it is to have an event on this scale and smaller and larger scales, what the cost is of those things. And you know I do a lot of work with county fairs and it's become a major hindrance for those fairs to be able to continue.
Speaker 2:It absolutely is a large factor in what we have going on and certainly we need to cover ourselves and we need to cover the people who are participating in the event. So if we do have something happen, there would be coverage.
Speaker 1:Let's talk a little bit about people that can still get in. You said your general admission tickets are sold out and I've seen people asking, you know, on Facebook. You know, hey, I want tickets, I want tickets. You know we're a month away.
Speaker 2:We are, and in past years in the early years, they sold out almost immediately. In the past years ticket sales have lagged somewhat, but we're assuming because we have Logan Mize as an entertainer this year, as well as the other entertainment that we provide. We have a powwow, we have stargazing, we'll have some dancing going on after, the symphony performs, educational tents during the day, all kinds of opportunities to get out and learn, and I think that as people are out enjoying all of this in its current format for the last time that it really has been the go-to get it ticket this summer, and I think people have really, you know, I've had so many people say to me this has always been on my bucket list, or every year we've had a conflict and all sorts of reasons that they haven't gotten around to it. But we do still have opportunities. If you get a hold of our website or you can call the office in Cottonwood Falls, we have patron packages available and, again, sponsorship packages are available and we're very willing to take your money for that.
Speaker 1:And the website is symphonyontheflinthillsorg. You know, one of the things that we haven't talked about is the date.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness, how could we not have done that?
Speaker 1:I don't know, we just jumped right into the conversation it's kind of important to share that it is.
Speaker 2:It's Saturday, june 14th, and we are looking forward to having a great day. We're hoping for wonderful weather, like it is today. Obviously, we'll have a large crowd. We have wonderful volunteers and staff that will be there to do everything they can to make it an unforgettable and very special day for everyone.
Speaker 1:Well, things like this don't happen without the effort of people that volunteer and put their heart and soul into it through that effort. So congratulations and thank you for doing so.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you. I appreciate your giving us the opportunity to be represented here today.
Speaker 1:Happy to do so. Mary Ice is her name. She's the chair of the board of the Symphony of the Flint Hills, June 14.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Website is symphonyontheflinthillsorg. I'm Dave Lewis. This is the GMCF Community Hour. Vern is going to return to give us an update on some other things that are coming down the pike here at the GMCF Community Hour. Here on News Radio KMAN.