Through the dedicated support of our entire community, we are able to do what we do:
Make Great Falls a better place through music.
The Symphony’s mission is to infuse cultural vibrancy into the Great Falls community through transformative music events and education programs. We are a cultural asset in northcentral Montana that raises the quality of life for its citizens through outstanding performing arts programs.
Our collective pursuit of artistic excellence in collaboration with cultural and civic partners demonstrates how much our community can achieve when we work together with local organizations and businesses.
There are many ways for individuals, families, and local businesses to support great music in our region.
Explore the support links on this page or contact us to learn more!
MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT
Grant Harville
Reflections on Music, Community, Leadership, and Legacy
RURAL BEGINNINGS
Tell us about your upbringing and how it shaped your journey into the world of classical music.
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I grew up in nowhere Wisconsin, quite literally: it was a house without a street address that my dad built from the ground up. On one hand, I could describe my career journey as a rags-to-riches story, but on the other hand, I could say that my career in music was fostered in a more traditional way because of my family’s advocacy for music and education. Both perspectives are true. My dad grew up on a traditional dairy farm in the Midwest, while my
mom’s dad was a professor of religion at Oberlin College, where he wrote books about New England Protestant leadership and played the cello.
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My great-grandmother attended college in the late 1800s, which was quite rare for women at that time. Despite my dad coming from a long line of small farmers and my mom coming from the intellectual crowd, it was music that brought my parents together. They met because they both studied voice at the University of Wisconsin. After college, they were both semi-professional musicians; my dad was a church choir director, and my mom taught voice at a local university.
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They made sure that my older brother and sister and I had lots of musical exposure from a young age. I’ve been singing since before I can remember, and I took piano lessons on a baby grand piano at home, and I also had instruction on viola and oboe. Involvement with classical music was something expected of me—not forced, but it was part of our life. We went to concerts, and all of us were required to play instruments and join the band or orchestra. I remember when my mom took me to see Dizzy Gillespie when I was a kid, not long before he died. She told me they were im provising, and I thought, “How can they just make it up?” It completely blew my mind. My siblings were always in musicals, so I was very familiar with that world. When I was 12, we moved to Madison, Wisconsin where artistic events were always happening at the university, and it was there that I got serious about playing tuba.​​​
Additional programs under the umbrella of the Great Falls Symphony Association include Youth Orchestra, Sinfonia, the Chamber Music Series, the Youth Matinee Educational Concert Series, and our rural Outreach Tours.
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These programs simply could not happen without the additional support of our generous donors.
Ticket sales cover only one-third of our annual expenses.​
Monthly giving ... the easy way!
Become a Sustaining Supporter
The Sustaining Supporter program gives you a convenient contribution option that provides stable support to the Symphony all year long.
Every contribution—no matter how small or large—helps us make Great Falls a better place to live through music.
Make your monthly donation by having your gift automatically charged from your debit or credit card. As a Sustaining Supporter, your gift is automatic– no checks to write, no payments to mail. You'll be supporting the many great Symphony programs and our talented musicians.
You have ultimate control and flexibility over your monthly gift because you can change or cancel your monthly donation at any time.
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Support us through your direct IRA contribution.
Make a difference today and save on taxes.
A Smart Opportunity for Those 70½ Years Old and Older
You can give any amount (up to a maximum of $100,000) per year from your IRA directly to a qualified charity such as the Great Falls Symphony Association without having to pay income taxes on the money. Gifts of any value $100,000 or less are eligible for this benefit and you can feel good knowing that you are making a difference in our community.
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Why Consider This Gift?
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Your gift will be put to use today, allowing you to see the difference your donation is making.
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Beginning in the year you turn 73, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD).
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You pay no income taxes on the gift. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions.
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Since the gift doesn’t count as income, it can reduce your annual income level. This may help lower your Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security that is subject to tax.
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Tips
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Be sure to seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor before you make your gift.
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Make sure you give your gift on or before December 31 for your donation to qualify this year.
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Use our legal name and federal tax ID.
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LEGAL NAME:
Great Falls Symphony Assn
LEGAL ADDRESS:
11 3rd St N, Great Falls, MT 59401
FEDERAL TAX ID: 81-6014907