WSO Women’s Committee now known as Friends
Mimi Lewellen, left, and Pat Miles, co-chairwomen of the Friends of the Wooster Symphony Orchestra, begin planning the upcoming season of meetings as they gear up for the organization’s 2023-24 concert season. The group recently changed its name from the Women’s Committee for the Wooster Symphony Orchestra to become more inclusive to all.
After more than 50 years, the Women’s Committee for the Wooster Symphony Orchestra decided it needed a name change.
In a unanimous vote during its spring meeting, members decided to change the group’s name to Friends of the Wooster Symphony Orchestra to more accurately reflect what the organization stands for and attract a greater diversity of membership, according to Friends’ co-chairwomen Mimi Lewellen and Pat Miles.
“Our organization began in 1972, and after 50 years we felt it was time to update our name to be more inclusive, and hopefully, more men and also younger men and women will join,” Miles said. “We felt it was time for an update, and also we are hoping the community will realize that the orchestra is not only part of the college but is a community orchestra as well.”
When the Women’s Committee for the WSO first began in 1972, a group of interested ladies came together to earn money in support of the orchestra. With a charter group of 65 women, they conducted various fundraising activities that included bake sales, quilt raffles and a holiday auction.
Miles, who has been an active part of the Friends group for about 15 years, and Lewellen, who has been part of the organization for all but five of the 50 years of its existence, both believe it can be difficult in this day and age to attract new members to an organization. But with an update to the name, their hope is more members of the community will want to take an active role in the group.
“It was thought that the group should be more diverse,” Lewellen said. “Hopefully, this will increase membership, which in turn will add support and involvement of the group.
“As with many organizations, the combination of the pandemic and aging of the membership has lessened our numbers. It is difficult to know how to attract new members, except to emphasize the value and specialness of the orchestra to the Wooster community and the fact that additional funding and support is necessary to maintain its high level.”
As an organization that supports the orchestra, the Friends group’s main purpose is to help ensure the seasons continue year after year. It does this by helping to fund the concerts with distribution of posters advertising the events and presenting achievement awards, where the majority go to students while one is saved for an individual who plays regularly in the orchestra, Miles said.
“In the past we have also purchased needed instruments and ushered (at concerts),” she said. “We sponsor the Holiday Concert and the annual Children’s Concert, where fourth-grade students in Wayne, Holmes and Ashland counties — about 1,400 students — are invited. These concerts were disrupted by the pandemic, and we look forward to resuming them.
“I believe that groups such as Friends of the Orchestra and other community groups also are valuable as they provide assistance financially and in other ways that help the orchestra be the best it can be. In that way people who enjoy this type of music can support the orchestra, and we also expose young people to an experience they might never have. Hopefully, the children will come to appreciate orchestra music.”
Wooster Symphony Orchestra Music Director Jeff Lindberg has seen firsthand the positive impact the Friends group has made on the ensemble throughout his tenure. He and the musicians are always thankful for the members’ support.
“For 50 years the Women’s Committee for the Wooster Symphony Orchestra has sustained and increased our impact in the community in a variety of creative ways,” Lindberg said. “Their support has funded the purchase of orchestral instruments, sponsored concerts including the annual Children’s Concert and provided scholarships for talented student musicians.
“The Women’s Committee for the WSO can be counted upon whenever special needs arise such as extra travel expenses for guest artists or commissioning new compositions for the orchestra to premiere. They recently changed their name to Friends of the Wooster Symphony Orchestra to more accurately reflect their membership, and we are confident that their dedication to the Wooster Symphony Orchestra will continue to benefit our community for many years to come.”
The Friends of Wooster Symphony Orchestra is planning its fall kickoff meeting for Friday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 621 College Ave., Wooster. Anyone interested in joining the group is invited to attend. For more information on the organization, email Lewellen at mlewellen@wooster.edu or Miles at pbm240@yahoo.com.