With support from the civic leaders, the Friends of the Ocean City Pops, Inc., launched in 2011 a major fundraising campaign—the Scheible Encore Society—in honor of William Scheible’s 25 years of distinguished leadership as music director of the famed orchestra.
The society will seek annual memberships to provide funds in four areas:
Expanding the Pops’ outreach program to area young people. Every year the Friends sponsor the Weil Competition open to all students from regional and public high schools. Substantial monetary prizes are awarded at the conclusion of the competition totaling thousands of dollars. In addition, scholarships are awarded to top regional students every year who choose to major in music.
Acquiring new music scores and arrangements. These are vital and costly tools for any orchestra. Funding also will give the Pops an opportunity to commission composers to create new works.
Broadening awareness of the Pops’ artistry. This will include showcasing the orchestra in regional venues and out of state. Other opportunities will be the release and distribution of new DVDs and music COs as well as augmented marketing, public relations and advertising.
Increasing the Friends endowment to guarantee future support of the POPS.
For more information contact co-chairpersons Bill Scheible at Billnoc@aol.com or Mary Anne Kull at Boardwalkbiker@aol.com.
The Friends of the Ocean City Pops, Inc., is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization whose mission is to promote excellence in the programming, performance and continuing development of the Ocean City.