Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Thank you for being here tonight and for sharing this special evening with the Columbus Cultural Orchestra. Your presence, your energy, and your support mean more to us than we can fully express. This gala is more than a celebration, it is a direct investment in the students, musicians, and community that make CCO possible.

What matters most to us is that you chose to spend your evening here, listening, connecting, and showing up for young musicians who are working hard on their musicianship. Tonight, every conversation, every bid, every show of encouragement helps build a community where music education is valued and accessible.

Your support tonight helps us do the very real work of putting music on the stage. Each season requires careful planning and resources, from producing concerts to supporting the educators, staff, and musicians who guide our students along the way. Because of you, we are able to keep our focus where it belongs: on meaningful, high-quality music education that empowers students to grow as artists and as people.

There are always more goals ahead, like new equipment, new tools, new opportunities, but what grounds us is the shared belief that students come first. The impact of this program is best told through the students themselves, and you’ll get to hear from some of them this evening.

We are deeply grateful that you are part of this story. Thank you for believing in the mission of the Columbus Cultural Orchestra and for helping us continue building something special, together. We hope you enjoy this magical night of jazz with strings.

With sincere thanks,

Megan Wetzel
Executive Director
Columbus Cultural Orchestra