Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to say how much I am looking forward to welcoming all of you to Chicago, June 9-12. Together with my Chicago Symphony Orchestra colleagues, we are delighted to be hosting League members this year and can promise you a dynamic, informative and inspiring few days in our great city. These may be challenging times but they are full of opportunity and together we will be able to share our problems and our solutions. This year may be one of the most important Conferences ever for our field.

The complete program can be found here, which also includes the agenda for your own five constituency meetings. Of all the great sessions, of particular value will be the Solutions for Our Time: Peer-to-Peer Roundtables, focusing on proven ideas that have improved orchestras’ Endowments, Cash Flow, Marketing, Development, Programming, Cost Control, Planning and Communications as they address challenges during the downturn.

Combined with great music by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, MusicNOW, and the Grant Park Festival Orchestra and Chorus; the Tune Up Party in the magnificent Art Institute of Chicago and NEXT, the ever-popular event for under 35 year old delegates, Chicago is the place to be in June.

Register by this Friday to secure your place at the 2008 rate.

Best wishes,

Deborah Rutter
President
Chicago Symphony Orchestra