Orchestra of New Spain

A nonprofit organization

$1,775 raised by 12 donors

24% complete

$7,500 Goal

The Orchestra of New Spain (ONS) is a period-instrument baroque orchestra and chorus specializing in the music of Spain and its sphere of New World influence. Fully professional, it is based in Dallas where it was created in 1989 to celebrate the place of the Catedral Santuario de Guadalupe in the aborning Arts District.
The Orchestra's repertory comes from the rediscoveries of its founder and Artistic Director of manuscripts in the court of 18th-century Spain, from Spanish and New World cathedrals and monasteries, and from the popular theaters of Madrid. This previously unknown repertory is the Spanish equivalent of better-known European baroque traditions.

ONS is a significant purveyor of Spanish baroque musical masterworks with two CDs to its credit and its national and international influence assured through tours undertaken throughout the US, including a celebration for the US State Department of the 50th anniversary of the Fulbright Program of Spain in 2012. That same year the Orchestra was invited to perform on tour at the internationally celebrated Festival of Renaissance and Baroque Music of Chiquitania, Bolivia, and at the Cervantino Festival in Mexico. Programming for those tours was heavily weighted to music of those two IberAmerican countries.

Increasingly aware of the relationship of Spanish music to theater and dance, ONS set out to develop a series of theater and dance productions with the 2012 opening of the City (now Moody) Performance Hall where it could produce its own staged productions, beginning with the baroque zarzuela, "Nuevas armas de amor" in 2013, reviewed as "a masterful and constantly delightful production…with extraordinary attention to reviving the acting styles, costumes, and sets of early eighteenth-century Spain.…every opera and theater fan should attend this production." Annual staged productions have followed including three modern operatic premières, three highly successful dance productions on Spanish themes, that have travelled to El Paso's annual Festival of Spanish Theater, and Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center, and have actually preceded (if not provoked) Spanish revivals of major 18th century zarzuelas and tonadillas in productions. These expensive ventures have become the motor of financial and audience development of ONS.

Our Needs

We would like to ask our donors to consider any contribution that will lead us to the amount of $25000 to the combined programs that include a Summer Strings Camp, In-School individual and small group beginning string lessons, attendance at our annual staged theatrical production, and museum visits and artist residencies.

Mission

The mission of the Orchestra of New Spain is to introduce in concert the lost repertory of the Spanish and New World Hispanic 17th and 18th centuries, and to explore the Hispanic heritage of which it is a part, educating the public on the importance of the repertory and its broader cultural implications.

• Performance of other renaissance, baroque, classical and romantic repertories on period instruments.

• Performance of alternative repertory, from other periods and other provenance.

Equity Statement

Pegasus Musical Society/ Orchestra of New Spain Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

All activities of the Pegasus Musical Society/Orchestra of New Spain provide diverse, inclusive and equitable experiences, whether in the workplace or at its activities. All employees, volunteers and patrons are made to feel valued and respected, whatever gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability they represent. We strive to reflect our community and our musical culture and to respect and inspire all people equally.

Goals for equity, diversity and inclusion

Equity

Pegasus Musical Society/Orchestra of New Spain strives for an equitable culture throughout its staff and board and across all its programs. We provide working environments without prejudice, discrimination or misogyny. We respect and try to inspire all people equally. Our goal is to provide fairness for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religion, age or disability. The director and the board hold themselves accountable to continually strive for these goals.

Diversity

We believe that diverse perspectives, cultural histories, life experiences and personal stories enrich the production of our repertoire and stimulate innovation at our organizational level. Diversity provides a richness and affirms varied contributions to our art form and to the community.

Inclusion

Pegasus Musical Society/Orchestra of New Spain works to establish new connections and relationships within our local community and internationally, broadening access to the arts among lesser-served groups and adding a richness to our contributions in our art form. We vary our performance subjects and sites in order to extend new opportunities and to appeal to new and varied audiences.

Action Items

* Our job descriptions are consistently inclusive, offer flexibility of work times and educational background, and on-the-job training. We welcome women and people from traditionally underrepresented groups.

* Our board is committed to including diverse representation.

* Our educational program (i.e. musical lessons provided to underserved students in the Dallas Independent School District) is based on the belief that everyone deserves equal access to a full, vibrant creative life, a cornerstone of a healthy and democratic society.

* Our performance venues are varied and located throughout the community, including the lower socio-economic areas. We work with local leaders to communicate and invite people to attend who would normally not be aware of our performances. We work to make all attendees feel welcome and appreciated by greeting each attendee personally.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Orchestra of New Spain

other names

Pegasus Musical Society

Tax id (EIN)

75-2312993

Guidestar

Causes

Arts, Culture & Humanities, Racial Equity, Education - K-12

Operating Budget

$100,000 - $249,999

Counties Served

Dallas

BIPOC Serving

Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

11615 Forest Central Dr Ste 305
Dallas, TX 75243