The Reading Eagle Company has generously included the Reading Pops Orchestra in the Berks Country Fest, a month-long festival celebrating the Americana heritage of the Reading and Berks County area, a region that is rich in Americana culture, music, arts and outdoor recreation. The event is organized and operated by Pretzel City Productions. Many thanks to the Berks Arts Council, an organization dedicated to sharing the importance of music, for its support and inclusion of the Pops in the Berks Jazz Fest. The Berks Arts Council consists of collaborations with name artists in assistance with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and includes information about Pops’ concerts through their email blast. To sign up to receive notices from the Berks Arts Council, please register at www.berksarts.org.
Each one of our concerts costs approximately $5,000 – $6,000 to produce locally, and up to $7,500 for the Pops to travel. Our individual concert sponsors often provide only a portion of concert expenses. The remainder is subsidized by funding we receive from the Reading Musical Foundation (RMF) , the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the U.S. Recording Industry’s Music Performance Trust Fund administered through the American Federation of Musicians, Local 135-211, and corporate sponsorships. The orchestra has also received donations from Reading Eagle Company, The JerLyn Foundation, the Berks County Community Foundation (past Student Side-by-Side Concert sponsor), and WEEU.
RPO’s main concern continues to be seeking financial support, due to majority of our concerts being free to the public. We feel that music is vital to a community and life in Berks County. To become a donor yourself, please contact us. Anything will help. Thank you!
