Cleveland Orchestra: $20M pledge toward young fans

10/26/2010
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra has landed a $20 million pledge toward its goal of a $60 million endowed fund to attract young fans.

The pledge announced Tuesday comes from the Maltz Family Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

Orchestra executive director Gary Hanson calls the pledge “a vote of confidence in the future” of the globe-trotting orchestra.

The pledge and the creation of the orchestra's Center for Future Audiences are part of a goal of having the nation's youngest audiences by the orchestra's centennial in 2018.

The plan includes neighborhood concerts, bus service from suburbs to Severance Hall, offering children under 18 free admission to many performances and offering adults ages 18 to 34 online discounts.