Allen Whitehall Clowes Charitable Foundation Awards Terre Haute Symphony Generous Grant

[Terre Haute, IN] – An Indianapolis based arts foundation has granted funding to the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra (THSO) in support of continuing the arts in West Central Indiana.

The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Inc.,(AWCCF) is a private foundation with a mission, “to support charitable organizations that promote or preserve the Arts and Humanities and those that were supported by Mr. Clowes during his life or are similar to those supported by Mr. Clowes.”

Principal Clarinet and Executive Director, Samantha Johnson-Helms, and Bass Clarinet, Dr. Keith Northover, present the clarinets during a recording session for a virtual presentation of the symphony’s annual children’s concert, Adventures in Music.

According to AWCCF, which awards funding during two different grant cycles, the foundation focuses on organizations located in central Indiana. The THSO will use the funding to support operating expenses, along with ongoing efforts to expand programming and awareness along the US 40 corridor. During the 2020-2021 season, the THSO was able to continue concert and education programming virtually with the support of the A.W. Clowes Foundation.

The THSO records their virtual Joyful Holidays concert in December 2020 at Maryland Community Church during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Second Bassoon, Dr. Sara Fruehe, shares her instrument via Zoom during a Tour of the Orchestra presentation in partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Indiana State University.

“As the only professional symphony orchestra in West Central Indiana, this grant will significantly help our efforts to bring our education programs and concert events to audiences in the Wabash Valley and beyond,” says Samantha Johnson-Helms, Executive Director, Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. “We are so grateful that the A.W. Clowes Foundation has chosen to invest in the arts in central Indiana.”

Principal Oboe, Rebecca McGuire, records a musician profile video at the Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute, IN. News crews from WTHI and WTWO capture the collaboration to share with the community.

Continues Artistic Director and Conductor David Bowden, “We are grateful that the AW Clowes Foundation is continuing their generous support of the THSO. These funds allow us to reach out and draw people from the US 40 corridor toward Indianapolis to come to Terre Haute and experience great music close to home.”