Are you aware that you're a rarity? A minority? Special?

You might be expecting a patronizing discourse on the importance of our audience and how much we appreciate your presence at our concerts. And, yes, it's true; we appreciate you more than you know.

But that's not my "angle" today.

Today, I want to thank you for seeking something more.

You are the ones who couldn't settle for whatever might be on television today. You are the ones who bypass the latest pulp fiction to brave your way through Kafka and Shakespeare. You are the ones who skip the "small talk" at parties, preferring to settle in a quiet corner with good friends to discuss big ideas. You are the ones who ignore the media bombardment telling you what product or celebrity is popular at the moment, preferring to decide for yourself what's important.

And when it comes to music, you are the ones who seek the voices who actually have something to say. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Copland, Mahler, Vaughan Williams, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Menotti, Barber -- they all lifted music beyond simple entertainment and dared to add their voices to the greatest human conversation.

The Chamber Orchestra of the Springs also has something to say. We're making music on a shoestring budget and against all odds, but our musicians are committed and their artistic generosity is the heart of our music.

So thank you for joining us as we launch this important season of musical exploration. We thank you for more than your presence; we thank you for you.

[signed]

-- Thomas Wilson