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BAFFA Year-In-Review 2023/2024

Year-in-Review

56th Season 

July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024

CHORUS

Personnel

  • Conductor: Martha Campanile 

  • Manager: Donna Pace

  • Accompanists: AnnMarie DiSibio & Maricela McGrath

  • Librarian: Marge Monheit

 

Rehearsals are held at the Bayport United Methodist Church on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm at $25.00/week â€‹

              

Performances

  • 11/25/23 – BAFFA’s  Victorian Carolers participated in Sayville’s Miracle on Main Street

  • 12/3/23- BAFFA Chorus – Tis the Season- Patchogue Methodist Church at 4:00pm - Concert dedicated to Maurice Kemp for his decades of service to BAFFA

  • 12/9/23 – BAFFA’s Victorian Carolers – participated at the Oakdale Historical Society’s Civil War Christmas 

  • 12/16/22 - BAFFA's Victorian Carolers – participated in the BAFFA ‘s Holiday Pop-Up Artisan Show 

  • 4/7/24 – BAFFA Chorus – Water & Music – Bayport United Methodist Church at 4 pm

  • 6/8/24 – BAFFA Chorus – Family-Friendly Concert - Weather in conjunction with the BAFFA Symphony Orchestra at the Bayport-Blue Point High School at 4 pm.

 

Notable Mentions

  • The chorus maintains an active roster of approximately 75 singers.

  • The Chorus welcomed twelve new singers this season!

ORCHESTRA

Personnel

  • Conductor: Bradley S. Hartman  

  • Personnel Manager: Trevor Dougherty 

  • Business & Operations Manager: Yvonne Sing

  • Librarians: Barbara Llobell & Danae Butler

  • Concert Master: Jen Torre

 

New Orchestra Director- Brad had to resign following the last concert due to conflicts with his PhD program. After receiving eleven applications, BAFFA is delighted to welcome Bruce Engel as their new Orchestra Director for their 57th season.

 

Operations

  • Handbook updated, divided the manager's position into two which are now the Personnel Manager and the Business & Operations Manager

  • An Orchestra Advisory Council was also formed and consists of two managers, two librarians, and two members at large who the Orchestra Director selects.

 

Venues

Rehearsals are held at the James Wilson Young Middle School, on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm - no charge. 

               

Performances

  • 12/9/24 - BAFFA Symphony Orchestra – Bayport - Blue Point High School at 7:30pm 

  • 3/8/24 – Meet The Composer with Bradley Hartman– featuring Strings Attached at the Gillette House at 7:00pm

  • 3/9/24 – BAFFA Symphony Orchestra – Dancing Into New Music -Bayport-Blue Point High School at 2:00pm 

  • 6/8/24 – BAFFA Symphony Orchestra –Weather in conjunction with the BAFFA Chorus at the Bayport-Blue Point High School at 4:00pm

 

Notable Mentions

  • Number of orchestra members increased from 28-40.

  • The Board of Directors policy change concerning a BAFFA membership requirement for all orchestra members was implemented successfully with 100% compliance.

 

Jacqueline C. Palmer Award Recipients: Matthew Gaudio & Christopher Halinski

GALLERY

Personnel

  • Gallery Director: Jeanette Leonard

  • Gallery Manager: Carol McMahon

  • Workshop Chairperson: Julianna Kirk

  • Gallery Committee formed with 12 members.

 

 Exhibits

  • July: Bob & Bobbie Dalpiaz – A Creative Marriage of Earth & Wood – pottery & woodwork

  • August: Cara Lynch - 13 Pareidolia: Recent Works – sculpture & multi-media

  • August: Works by Adelphi University BFA Class of 2023 – Hindsight -  GROUP SHOW - mixed medium

  • September: South Bay Art Association – Big Works – GROUP SHOW –mixed medium

  • October: Jim Schultz – Lost Memories – sculpture & oil painting 

  • October: Catherine Resin – The Image of Love – portrait artist

  • November: Bell Street Artists - Gathering - GROUP SHOW - mixed media 

  • December: Plein Air Limner (PALS) - Paint & Color of LI - GROUP SHOW - landscapes

  • December: Holiday Pop-Up Artisan Show - small gift items made by local artists

  • January: Scott & Linda Hartman – Hartman Studio 44 

  • February – BAFFA Artists Member Show – Reflections – MEMBERS SHOW - mixed medium

  • March: Elementary Art Show – Bayport- Blue Point and Sayville School Districts

  • March: Middle School Art Show – Bayport-BluePoint and Sayville School Districts

  • April: Annual High School Invitational Juried Art Show – 12 High Schools

  • April: Earthenwood Artisans – Ancient Forms Inspired by Nature - Pottery & Woodwork

  • May: Women Sharing Art - The Thrill of the Moment - GROUP SHOW - mixed media  

  • June: Alyssa DeStefano – Reflections in Oil – oil painting

 

Notable Mentions

  • BAFFA gained 75 Gallery Artist memberships.

  • Created a Gallery Committee and welcomed Gallery Manager, Carol McMahon and Workshop Chairperson, Julianna Kirk.

  • Developed very successful & varied art workshops where BAFFA members receive a discount.

  • BAFFA now designs and supports the creation of solo artist posters or group shows if they choose.

  • Initiated the first Holiday Pop-Up Artisan Show in December & BAFFA Members Show in February. Both were a huge success.

  • Produced an informative video to explain art procedures for incoming artists and gallery greeters.

  • Streamlined online applications for artists and art groups.

  • Installed Square to efficiently collect sales via credit card at all gallery events and added ticket sales via BAFFA website.

  • Presented 4 solo artists exhibits, 2 duo artist exhibits, and 5 artist group exhibits.

  • Presented a total of $4,800 in scholarships to outstanding High School artists from Harlan and Olivia Fischer, the Jacqueline Palmer Foundation, the Bell Street Artists, and Women Sharing Art.

 

Jacqueline C. Palmer Award Recipients: Robert Pizzingrillo

​

Gallery Improvements

  • Display and Storage Cabinets -Using money from the Zelenda Grant, Jeanette Leonard designed two beautiful custom-made storage cabinets and exhibit spaces.

  • The Town of Islip has ordered and will install air-conditioning units in the Gallery/Office space in the "near future".

​

MEMBERSHIP​

  • Membership on June 30, 2024, totaled 206 members with an increase from 127 members on June 30, 2023. It is now required that all music performers and solo gallery artists are members.

  • Rolling Membership - Modified how our memberships expire to a rolling membership. Memberships will now expire 12 months from join/renewal date. A new membership system/ list was created with quick automation buttons.

OFFICE

  • Organized all computer and hard files.

  • Organized and labeled all keys.

  • Created new passwords and security for all program access.

  • Set up Informed Delivery via USPS.

  • Using our new BAFFA Branding- many forms were updated including:

  1. BAFFA letterhead

  2. Forms for purchases and deposits

  3. Concert and gallery programs 

  • Introduced quarterly event posters/flyers for members and gallery event flyers

  • Started utilizing QR codes with flyers, journal, events, posters, memberships, etc.

PUBLICITY/PR

  • Advertising

- Continued to publicize our events throughout the year with information regarding concerts and art exhibits in various publications including, but not limited to: Newsday, Suffolk County News, Bayport-Blue Point Gazette, Sayville Chamber, Islip Town Supervisors Weekly online calendar, Huntington Arts Council and Patchogue Arts Council.

- BAFFA events are now listed and posted regularly on Suffolk County Cultural Arts site with a link to BAFFA's website.

  • BAFFA Brochures

- Eye-catching brochures designed by Holly Hunt are used at multiple events.

  • BAFFA Marching Banner

- Designed by Jeanette Leonard for parades, festivals, and fairs.

  • BAFFA Event Flyers

- Professionally created and designed by Holly Hunt and Jeanette Leonard for website, Facebook, Instagram, and publicity releases.

  • Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce

- BAFFA joined the Sayville Chamber of Commerce.

-BAFFA events are posted on their site.

- Bernice Corbin is BAFFA's liaison to the Chamber.

  • Newsletter

- Holly Hunt creates concise, interesting, and timely newsletters that are emailed to members and subscribers twice a month through MailChimp.

-MailChimp subscriber growth from 442 to 585.

  • Sign Board

- Moved by the sidewalk for greater visibility.

- Sign vinyl wording was updated.

- New posters are installed monthly.

  • Sign on Main Street

- The Town of Islip has agreed to put a sign on Main Street directing the public to the BAFFA Art Gallery. Main Street is under the jurisdiction of Suffolk County, but the Town of Islip will make the sign. The Town is in discussion with the County about this.

  • Social Media

- Regularly posting on both Instagram and Facebook.

-Instagram grew from 77 followers in August 2023 and now BAFFA has 409 followers.

-Facebook grew from 99 followers to 177.

  • Website

- Holly Hunt completely redesigned our website and it is updated weekly. In August 2023, BAFFA had 137 visits per month and now has 774.

REVENUE SOURCES

  • Memberships​

  • Donations

  • Grants

  • Journal

  • Gallery commissions, donations, and workshops

  • Concert donations

  • Savers- Clothing Drive

  • CD interest

  • Jacqueline C. Palmer Award for music and art students

BAFFA BOARD:

  • President: Donna Smosky

  • VP: Open 

  • Secretary: Gina Eldredge

  • Treasurer: Kelly Jones

  • Assistant Treasurer*: James Fallon

  • Chorus Manager: Donna Pace 

  • Gallery Manager*: Carol McMahon

  • Gallery Workshop Chairperson*: Julianna Kirk

  • Membership: Chair: Jenna Murphy

  • Orchestra Personnel Manager*: Trevor Dougherty

  • Orchestra Business & Operations Manager*: Yvonne Sing

  • Program Notes: Jane Love

  • Publicity: Ann Armoza

  • Member at Large: Judy Hester

Staff:

  • Office Manager: Holly Hunt

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* Indicates a new position.

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