FOX VALLEY MUSIC FOUNDATION

Programs

1. 2022 was our first full year of regular season programming since the opening of the venue in june 2019. After 16 months of forced closure and reduced capacity during 2020 and part of 2021 due to the covid pandemic, the venue returned to presenting a full schedule of live music with local, regional and national touring artists on stage from two to five nights a week. Audience attendance increased 250% in 2022, with approximately 15% of the shows selling out. Increased attendance has translated into additional foot traffic and has served as an economic driver for businesses and restaurants in the downtown arts district. In addition to the increased attendance, 2022 saw an increase in the number and types of shows presented, from 132 shows in 2021 to 181 shows in 2022. The venue has become a destination for music lovers of all genres and from all walks of life and has received high praise from touring musicians.

   $508,249 spent
   100% of program spending

2. Residency programs in 2022 the music foundation, in cooperation with the pete ellman jazz big band nfp, began a weekly residency program, presenting 38 jazz big band concerts that included 45 middle and high school jazz bands as "openers" prior to the professional big band concerts. This program speaks directly to our mission to provide affordable music programming and education to all. This program is a way to get budding musicians into a real-world environment where they can play in front of a live audience as well as parents and classmates. The highly successful series takes place from mid- october thru june and sells out on a regular basis. In addition to the jazz residency, the venue is pleased to have terrapin flyer as a monthly residency. The grateful dead tribute band performs on the second thursday of each month to packed audiences. What is at the core of the residency is the idea that the grateful dead and jerry garcia's music still has plenty of life in it and that the music being so improvisational in nature can and does go to new places in each performance. No two terrapin flyer shows are ever the same and you never know who might show up to jam at a show.

3. Music education rock talk free lecture series with professor mark plummer the music foundation in collaboration with professor mark plummer of aurora university presented a 4-part, free lecture series called rock talk. The informative, educational and entertaining series took place on sunday afternoons, giving patrons of all ages, an in depth look at important, historical music events, including the monterey international pop festival, the rise and fall of stax records, the altamont music festival of 1969 and the magnum opus. Filled with facts, photos, music video clips, interviews and more, the successful series will be back again next year to explore more music history.

4. In addition to items listed above, fvmf is proud to continue their singer/songwriter programming which provides opportunities for aspiring musicians to present their music, learn their craft and share music with others. The music in mundy outdoor concert series evolved into a summer festival series: june/blues, july/jazz and august/americana. 2022 saw increased collaboration with other non-profit organizations through rentals, assisting in fundraising efforts for their organizations, some of which included united way, the neighbor project, rouse 3.0 and the kane county bar association. The venue has also hosted many workshops and seminars for the city of aurora and fox valley businesses in an effort to increase revenue to cover programming costs. The venue has become a true community gathering place where both musicians, patrons and volunteers can gather with a common purpose. Our hardworking volunteers contribute their time and talents to ensure that the fvmf and the venue will continue to operate successfully in the coming years.

The 4 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $508,249.