San Francisco Symphony's Keeping Score Project Receives $10 Million Challenge Grant From the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

SAN FRANCISCO (www.sfsymphony.org) - John Goldman, President of the San Francisco Symphony (SFS), today announced a $10 million challenge grant from the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund for the Symphony's groundbreaking multimedia effort in support of building new audiences for classical music, Keeping Score: MTT on Music.
The largest grant in the Symphony's 93-year history, the Haas challenge grant is intended to inspire further investments by additional individuals and corporations to Keeping Score by matching contributions to the $23 million project. The grant will be awarded after the San Francisco Symphony raises $10 million over the next three years.

The Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund has been an early believer in the potential of the Symphony's audience building and educational efforts. In 2000, the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund awarded $1.7 million for research and development of the Keeping Score television pilot that aired on PBS last summer; of the companion website, ;www.keepingscore.org; and of the Symphony's kids' website, www.sfskids.com. This challenge grant includes an $8.3 million pledge for Keeping Score's three upcoming television series, slated for early 2006.

Created by the San Francisco Symphony and Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas in response to a national decline in music education, Keeping Score is the keystone in an effort to awaken a passion for classical music. In addition to the two one-hour PBS telecasts that aired on June 16, 2004, and the launch of www.keepingscore.org, Keeping Score will create and air three national television series, tentatively scheduled to launch in early 2006.
The first radio series is slated to air in collaboration with Minnesota Public Radio in early 2006. The education and outreach program for high school music and humanities is slated to launch in summer 2005. This effort will reach across America - to neighborhoods, small towns, and cities. Taking advantage of the latest technological resources, such as the World Wide Web and DVD video, as well as TV, radio, and more, Keeping Score's reach is virtually limitless and is another example of how the San Francisco Symphony harnesses contemporary means to bring audiences in touch with music's timeless legacy.
For further information about Keeping Score, visit www.sfsymphony.org.