2011 Carnets “Play the World” Scholarships Announced – Popular Program Expanded to Meet Demand for League of American Orchestras Conference

Boomerang carnets® received enthusiastic interest from many League of American Orchestra members in the 2011 Carnets "Play the World" scholarships to help defray the costs of attending their annual leadership and education conference. In response to this interest the scholarship program has been expanded from five to six scholarships for 2011. This is the second year of the scholarships which are awarded to League of American Orchestra members that tour internationally.

Barrington, IL May 11, 2011 -- Six League of American Orchestra members were awarded 2011 annual conference scholarships by boomerang carnets®. The Carnets “Play the World” scholarships are awarded to professional and youth orchestras that promote American orchestras through their international tours. Orchestras that have not toured but that plan to tour internationally within the next three years are also eligible for the scholarship. To emphasize the importance of professional education for orchestra operations professionals, the awards are directed to Executive Directors and Directors of Operations who are members of the League of American Orchestras. Each award covers virtually the entire cost of registration fees (or travel expenses). This year’s conference is in Minneapolis from June 6th – 9th. Scholarship recipients appreciate the monetary award since, in most cases, they would not be able to attend the conference due to budget constraints.

The 2011 scholarship recipients are:

Vanessa Rose-Pridemore, Managing Director, The Knights,  Scholarship Value:  $560.00

Veronica Bashbush, Director of Strategic Operations, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Scholarship Value:  $460.00

Jon Hummel, Executive Director, Philadelphia Sinfonia, Scholarship Value: $460.00

Alice Sauro, Operations Manager, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Scholarship Value:   $460.00

Holly Caprell, Executive Director, Greenville County Youth Orchestras, Scholarship Value: $460.00

Bryan Rudderow, Operations Manager, New Jersey Youth Symphony, Scholarship Value: $460.00

Three of the six recipients are first time attendees to the League of American Orchestras annual conference and 3 of the six are youth orchestras.

Boomerang carnets® provides ATA Carnet services to U.S. and Canadian performing arts organizations traveling abroad. Boomerang carnets® provides ATA Carnets to professional, regional, youth and university orchestras and bands enabling them to tour to 87 member countries and territories without paying duties or taxes when clearing customs. Boomerang carnets® is an appointed Service Provider of the United States Council for International Business and issues over 5000 ATA Carnets annually to U.S. non-profit and for-profit organizations.