What it does
The mission of cma is to engage, enrich and educate the central iowa community through provocative, world-class musical performances by legends and rising stars. Cma is governed by a volunteer board of directors and has an annual operating budget exceeding 450,000. Cma presents a seven concert season featuring national and international classical and jazz artists. Through its cma studio program cma, contracts these performing artists to present educational events in the community concurrent with their concerts. In addition cma manages the belin quartet, a string quartet funded through a foundation created by the belin family, which performs free chamber music concerts in the community and also offers free education and outreach programs for area schools, youth agencies, retirement homes and community events.
Historically, cma concerts are attended by approximately 4,000 ticket buyers each year. In addition, cma delivers free concerts and music education programs to an audience of 5,000 adults and children. The direct costs for presenting these concerts and education programs are approximately 250,000 per year. Revenue to support our work comes from ticket sales, corporate and individual contributions, as well as grants from private foundations and public funding agencies.
The belin quartet was established in the year 2000 by a grant to the civic music association from the iowa foundation for education, environment, and the arts, a charitable foundation created by david belin. His vision that the whole community should have the opportunity to share the joys of classical music is realized through the belin quartet. Each year the quartet entertains over 1000 people at its indoor and outdoor lunchtime concerts. Additionally they annually perform to more than 500 students and senior citizens in area schools and the wesley retirement community.