In 2011, the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra established an endowment fund at the Licking County Foundation to provide ongoing financial support to the organization.

“The fund is a visible measure of our financial health and our organizational stability. Our goal is to encourage our patrons to help grow the endowment, and to use the generated funds wisely in support of the orchestra’s mission,” said Susan Larson, Executive Director of NGSO.

Licking County has a rich and vibrant cultural past. The first orchestra in Licking County, Licking County Symphony, was founded in 1939. In 1992, the orchestra changed its name to the Welsh Hills Symphony Orchestra. In addition, The Land of Legend Philharmonic was formed in 1990 with a mission to present free children’s concerts to the Licking County community. In 2005, both orchestras merged to form the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra and the Newark-Granville Youth Symphony. The orchestra is now in its 14th season under the direction of Russel C. Mikkelson. The mission of NGSO is to enhance the quality of life in Licking County by presenting the highest quality professional performances of classical and popular music and by offering educational and community programs to further the understanding and enjoyment of music.

NGSO chose to establish an endowment fund at LCF to support the important work of the orchestra into the future and ensure that our community can enjoy quality music by local musicians for many years to come.

“Having an endowment fund reinforces our perspective that the NGSO has a long history and a long future ahead of us.  Our work is not just day to day or year to year. The endowment will help the future financial stability of the NGSO, but perhaps as importantly the endowment reminds us and our community that we all have an obligation to the future cultural health and well-being of Licking County,” said Susan.