WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION
  • HOME
  • Concerts & Tickets
  • Make a Gift
    • We love our Donors!
    • Margaret's Musings
    • Business Partnerships
    • Volunteer
  • The Philharmonic
    • Music Director Anna Binneweg
    • AfterChats with Anna
    • Meet the Philharmonic
    • Philharmonic Auditions
    • Past Concerts
    • Musicians Login
  • Youth Orchestras
    • Youth Orchestras
    • Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra
    • Washington Metropolitan Concert Orchestra
    • Youth Orchestra Auditions
    • Tuition
    • Past Concerts
  • Purpose, Mission & Vision
  • Meet Our People
  • News & Press
    • Media Image Gallery
  • Contact

Margaret's Musings

Each year, WMPA’s work brings together many voices — artists, audiences, supporters, and friends — united by a shared commitment to the arts. In Margaret’s Musings, Board President Margaret Ballard shares her thoughts, insights, and occasional tips in her own inimitable style.
This blog space is where she reflects freely on the ideas, people, and moments that shape WMPA's work and community - a place for honest conversation, good humor, and thoughtful perspective.
Reach out to Margaret directly at [email protected].
Picture

Giving S2A

4/16/2026

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
“Yes, the amount is correct: we want to give $25,000,” said the donor on the other end of the phone call. Wow! Of course, I was delighted. ​
That conversation occurred on the very first day of Early Giving for Spring2Action. As President of the Board of the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association, I had placed the call. Around 4pm, a notice came in about a VERY LARGE donation. We had the donor’s contact information in our files, and I almost expected the person on the other end of the line to recant and say they had misplaced a decimal point.
Picture
“I support everything WMPA stands for and has done,” said Marilyn Schimpf.  Wow! I was again delighted with such a blanket endorsement.
 
As the conversation continued, this donor mentioned that her husband had been a violist with the National Symphony Orchestra for 40 years. She herself was an accomplished cellist. Particularly in light of the current political onslaught on the arts, they wanted to make a statement. They wanted publicly to thank their friend and retired longtime maestro Ul James for being so committed to musicians and audiences, and to thank WMPA for continuing to be a force in the community. Bringing along young musicians with our youth orchestras, constantly improving artistic standards, educating audiences (and musicians) with programing, and providing the informal summer series are all activities which resonate with that couple.
 
Theirs might be the largest single donation on Day One of any of the Spring2ACTion campaigns.  Wow, again!
 
While I don’t expect similar gifts, any amount is appreciated. DON’T YOU WANT TO EARN ‘POINTS’ from using your credit card?  Seriously, don’t you wish to provide a legacy towards supporting The Arts?   
 
At an S2A event, a Board member mentioned that “You have to LEARN to give.”  I was fortunate my parents and their parents and so on instilled the need to help others and to support worthy causes. Your giving helps teach others to give.  Consider asking others to help, too, with a $10, $20, $100 or other gift today!  Unlike voting, you may GIVE EARLY AND OFTEN! Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association (WMPA) | Spring2ACTion  
​
The actual S2A “day” is April 22nd.  Join the Schimpfs in supporting WMPA.
Picture
By the way, it’s not too soon to make your May 10th Mother’s Day plans with the whole family to attend the 3 PM concert at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall: It promises to be a wonderful concert, in a marvelous performance venue.
0 Comments

It's Spring!

4/2/2026

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
​It’s time to think about getting the garden readied for planting the lettuce for the bunny rabbits. It’s time to think about where to snag a beach house for a summer vacation. It’s time to think about helping WMPA meet its goal towards the first of our two annual major fundraising drives. 
 
A rite of spring is the Spring 2 ACTion campaign.  WMPA welcomes the opportunity to team up with ACT for Alexandria to launch this year’s spring fundraising effort.  You don’t have to wait!  YOU CAN SEND IN YOUR CHECKS NOW (Payable to “WMPA” P.O. Box 16422, Alex, VA 22302)  We are an Alexandria charity.   Beginning in the very early hours of Wednesday April 8th, the S2A websites will be accepting credit card donations. Look for WMPA – whether it’s the S2A page for the horn players of the WashMetPhil, or a violaist with the WMYO Youth Orchestra, or Anna’s page or another, THE FUNDS ALL COME TO WMPA.  
In the past some of our patrons have asked “I live in D.C.  Why should I donate to a site promoting non-profits in Alexandria?”  The answer is: you are donating to WMPA.  We bring a culturally rich treasure of fine orchestral music to the area.  We need your support.
Picture
​S2A indeed is the single largest donation activity for charitable organizations in the city of Alexandria.  Technically, it is a single day of giving; this year is 24 hours of April 22nd.  Early giving begins April 8th. Good for ACT (essentially the United Way) to foster a spirit of giving!  As a longtime Alexandria resident, I know I will keep my credit card information “live” when I go into the various WMPA S2A sites. After “salting” a few of our sites, I will “pepper” several others, like the Animal Welfare League, a food bank, a homeless shelter and after-school education/rec centers.  Please feel free to scroll through the range of other causes and contribute…or not. 
 
As mentioned, you can mail checks to our PO box. For example, I already mailed a Qualified Charitable Distribution check from an IRA account. You can also donate directly on our wmpamusic.org website.  We have a way to communicate these donations to count towards the official S2A totals. (That is, up until they “close off” their tallies; we accept later donations towards our internal count.)  Yes, we can save a little bit on fees that way, but overall it’s SO EASY TO USE THE various WMPA S2A platforms!  Just donate!
 
For the past few years, through your generous support, WMPA has been on the TOP OF THE LEADERBOARDS for the size of our non-profit. This awards us a cash prize from the ACT organizers.
 
SO, LET’S BE ON TOP again!  Can we get the most donors? Can we get the most donations? Can we “win” the most donations on a single day? Please help us!
 
Anna, Megan and I plan to attend the Spring2ACTion kick-off party on April 15th, joining with other non-profits to celebrate this 16th year of fundraising for causes like ours.  
Picture
​What else is happening? Join us for the “Dog Walk” in Alexandria on Saturday April 18th, rain or shine. WMPA will host a table. Megan and I plan to hand out WMPA totes, car magnets, and flyers about our spectacular Mother’s Day concert, and our Lyceum summer series. 
I always carry dog treats with me, so I plan to greet all the pooches while Megan can engage the human passers-by.  It’s a fun way to introduce “WMPA” to many Alexandrians. Channel 4 Weatherman Chuck Bell will emcee again, with his two pups.

What else? Got some time to help? Consider joining the Board!  Got a garden club or bookclub? Consider sending a WMPA S2A link to them…maybe they might enjoy helping our worthy cause as we “countdown” to this spring fundraising!
0 Comments

​ Youth Concert!

3/16/2026

0 Comments

 
Picture
While most of you know WMPA provides concerts of the incredible Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, and a free summer Sunday chamber music series at the Lyceum in Old Town Alexandria, another “secret gem” WMPA offers to the community happens to be our TWO youth orchestras.
I would be remiss if all I didn’t share my enthusiasm about their upcoming concert. WMPA’s Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (WMYO) and the Washington Metropolitan Concert Orchestra (WMCO will perform a combined Spring concert on Sunday afternoon March 22, 2026.  It might be March Madness with the NCAA basketball, and we might have snow squalls, but why not take a break and support these young musicians?  They will amaze you. ​
Picture
This concert will feature two senior soloists: one a wonderful cellist, another a talented violinist. Both orchestras have been rehearsing on Tuesday nights throughout the school year in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County. Their early December concert was a success at the Bishop Ireton High School with nearly 200 audience members enthusiastically applauding.  The upcoming Spring concert will be at a different venue near Washington’s Mount Vernon, at the West Potomac HS. 
 
WMYO, under Music Director Alberto Rodrigeuz, generally is for talented high schoolers, while the WMCO, under Music Director Martin Garfield-Levine, is for middle-schoolers.  I can’t speak enough about how much I admire the enthusiasm and skill of our Music Directors.  Both are public school educators who believe strongly in gifting their young musicians with lifelong musical enjoyment and dedication. Perhaps you saw our announcement that Al had been awarded Yamaha’s prestigious “40 under 40” excellence in music educators?  40 Under 40 - 2026 - Yamaha Music   Another cool fun fact is that the WMYO Assistant Music Director, Robert Katz, himself is a “graduate” of the WMYO.
Picture
I invite you to read more about the ensembles on our website. Youth Orchestras - WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION 
 
Furthermore, I hope to see you at the West Potomac High School at 4:00 pm on March 22nd.  (Alas, we had an unexpected late change in venue; as well as time change to accommodate this location.)  The correct address is 6500 Quander Road, Alexandria, VA 22307.
 Plan to enjoy listening to an inspired program
0 Comments

Bittersweet

2/9/2026

0 Comments

 
​This topic for this “musings” picked itself. As our organization bids farewell to Caroline Mousset, we welcome Megan Yingst. I simply MUST write a little about each of them.
Picture
As our Executive & Artistic Director for seven years, Caroline has been instrumental in transforming WMPA into a more modern and purposeful organization. Perhaps her biggest achievement was in orchestrating the search for a replacement for the irreplaceable Ul James as Music Director. What a successful outcome!  Dr. Anna Binneweg has won us over and vice versa. Their collaboration on artistic planning has elevated the repertoire of the Philharmonic.
Caroline has also worked with Anna to improve and streamline staffing for the WMP to allow musicians easy access to scores, rehearsal dates, and set-ups.  Caroline crafted a website extraordinaire and established a style guide and all-important branding.  She increased regional press exposure for WMPA and identified many media partners and established and maintained a presence on various social media platforms. She has improved our record-keeping and inaugurated new payment methods and patron appreciation activities. Her contributions also include creating a 3-year Strategic Plan to guide the Board forward.
Picture
I’m sure we will hear her Georgia accent slip out at upcoming concerts!  Please be sure to congratulate her decision to move on to her life’s next adventure.
Picture

A New Chapter

​Gosh, I hadn’t even mentioned the number of invoices and bills which need tracking to help the Treasurer and bookkeeper. Or negotiating vendor, performer or venue contracts and recommending execution.  Or creating program notes, updating donor listings and handouts for concerts. Or preparing emails or responding to phone inquiries. Or meeting with arts leaders in Alexandria and nearby communities to ensure WMPA is recognized and represented. 
Or maintaining the organization’s internal calendar. Or establishing and running the Spring2ACTion campaign, the WMPA’s single-most important fundraising event. Or a host of other activities like sending donation acknowledgement letters for each donation.  All the above was ALSO done by Caroline in her, ahem, part-time position.

WMPA is very lucky to have landed someone who has already “stepped up to the plate” to try to fill Caroline’s proverbial shoes. I am delighted to introduce you to Megan Yingst.
 
Megan hails from Florida and has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She taught music in Polk County, FL and Baltimore County, MD public schools. This summer she finished two years as Executive Director of the Alexandria Choral Society. Among her accomplishments with them was arranging the first ever city-wide Alexandria choral festival. (Eight choirs, 50 volunteers, and sell-out performance: do you think this woman can organize?!)
 
She enjoys being the part-time Assistant Artistic and Outreach Director for the Alexandria Children’s Chorus. She also gives home private music instruction in vocal, guitar, and piano.
At first, she said no…
 
But I thought I would call her back. And ask again.  It worked. We were in a bind with Caroline’s announced February 10 departure, and Megan didn’t want to commit to something where part-time really meant full-time.  So, we honed the job description and renamed it to Chief Operating Officer.  Recognizing this may be a “test drive” she asked that “Interim” be added.  (I’m hopeful we can scrap the interim title soon enough.) ​
Picture
So please join me in welcoming Megan to WMPA. She is excited to be working with Anna, Al and Marty and is looking forward to the Lyceum Chamber Series, too. ​
Picture
WMPA relies on you for financial support.  Thank you.  Please visit our Make a Gift webpage.
0 Comments

Keep the Dream Alive

1/19/2026

0 Comments

 
This past Spring, the Board of Directors honed our Purpose, Mission, and Vision, which appear in full on our homepage. Simply put: WMPA’s Purpose is to unite and uplift our community through the transformative power of classical music. This is a lofty dream indeed.

We all enjoy the music opportunities offered by WMPA.  Whether you enjoy the Philharmonic performing full force symphonies and/or more rare and intriguing pieces in large concert venues, and/or our more intimate chamber music series at the Lyceum, WMPA offers an amazing array of talented performers.  Most of you also know the WMPA supports two Youth Orchestras, whose leaders instill an enthusiasm and love of music in their young ensembles. 
 
We achieve our goals with YOUR help.  We raised over $50,000  with the End-of-Year Campaign!  We had dreamed of $100,000 and met half that, albeit still the most ever in our history.
 
For many non-profits, once one fundraising campaign ends, another starts. Spring2ACTion is coming on April 22, so you have another chance to “tune up your checkbooks.”

It takes more than Money

The point of this missive isn’t asking for funds: It’s asking for you to consider Other Ways to Support WMPA in addition to donations and attending performances.  Of course, it’s lovely to attend concerts…but there is so much that goes into making a concert happen. 
 
As a means to reducing costs, WMPA relies heavily on volunteers to help run the organization and bring concerts to the community.  Many tasks can be parsed out, and we all know that putting a couple heads together on a task allows duties (and thus time) to be split. ​
Picture
As a small organization, people wear many proverbial hats…and we are always looking for more people to help sport these hats.  Additionally, it seems the ‘hats’ have a way of changing style…do we keep the old as well as add the new…decisions need to be made.
 
WMPA has many needs for community “Outreach”, for example: are our free online ads doing the trick?
 
For “Communications”, our eblasts don’t write themselves. Also, are we targeting the correct recipients? 
 
We have a very capable bookkeeper and accounting team which have helped the Treasurer immensely, but reconciliation nevertheless takes time.  
 
Are we getting the most out of the online platforms we have for emails, ticketing, and documents or calendar management, for example?  Are there other platforms we should use to track activities?
 
The above offers a sampling of activities YOU might have the time and expertise to assist with, or perhaps you know someone who’s been toying with the idea of helping a community organization.  Contact us!
 
Perhaps you might consider joining the concert-day volunteers, to sign-up for helping set-up the Will Call table or overseeing AfterChats with Anna.  For the Youth Orchestras, perhaps you could help set-up or greet attendees at concerts… or arrange a parent/student pizza party after a rehearsal. Your time would help spread the workload!

Coming soon

The Board will be generating a “Pick Your Level” of possible interest and involvement for volunteering with WMPA.  Those few hours a month you might donate can be “instrumental” in making a season a success!
 
Stay tuned for some of our powers of persuasion to consider volunteering (yourself, or your spouse or another friend) to help WMPA continue to bring music to the northern Virginia/DC metropolitan area!
Picture
WMPA relies on you for financial support.  Thank you.  You are more than welcome to visit our Make a Gift webpage.
0 Comments

Alphabet Soup!

12/23/2025

0 Comments

 
If you hadn’t quite gotten your ducks in a row for this year, consider some of the ABC’s for future years charitable giving. 

DAF - QCD - IRA - AGI

Maybe you happen to have some stock that has been lucky enough to grow SO MUCH that you’ll be paying enormous capital gains if you sell.  Maybe you happen to make regular donations to charity anyway.  Maybe it is time to consider setting up a Donor Advised Fund, where you sell that stock within a formally declared and forever-charitable fund.  You get the FULL deduction in the year you create the DAF, and you can have your charities peppered with donations from it for months and years after, though obviously as long as funds remain.

Funny Money! ​

I was fortunate enough to be a “saver.”  On top of that, when first offered about 50 years ago, I took advantage of deferred compensation (IRA/401k/457b) options while I was working.  Gosh, using that opportunity to put funds to work for me before taxes really compounded over the years. I was lucky enough that employers usually matched the first 2-3% I put in. Even with generally conservative with mutual funds as offered by the various management institutions, the funds grew.​
Picture
Now that I’m the age where I MUST take funds from my tax-deferred accounts (understandably, the government wants its fair share), the funds are kind of “funny money” for me.  Not quite like Monopoly money, but close.  ​

My thanks...

But there’s nothing funny about the needs of WMPA.  It takes individual donors to cover the majority of the budget. Ticket sales do not cover costs of concerts by a long shot, for example.
 
Personally, I am pleased to step up with a significant donation this year. It is called a QCD and comes from an IRA account and will apply to my RMD.  Look on our “Make a Gift” page to see the definitions and contact your financial institution to help!
 
I am grateful to many of you who also have noted the advantage of sending checks from such “alphabet sources.”  I am grateful to those of you who have otherwise donated during our End of Year Campaign.  There’s still time
 Thank you.  Visit our Make a Gift webpage.
0 Comments

The Good Ole Days

12/10/2025

0 Comments

 
You all know... that long gone are the days of buying a cup of coffee for a dollar, let alone for a quarter.  Orchestras are in the same boat. Long gone are the days of low or no cost venue space. Long gone are the days of ‘word of mouth’ attendance.  Long gone are the days of free ads in the Washington Post or other newspapers. Long gone are the days of just a couple of other entertainment choices for patrons. Long gone are the days before websites and email blasts and social media posts, and plain ole card-stock tickets. ​
Make your end-of-year gift
Nevertheless, WMPA has been keeping pace to meet these challenges, looking to raise funds to offset the increased costs.  

The Present

Behind the scenes, the eblasts don’t just “write themselves.” The venue contracts get more costly and more complicated. The program offerings by WashMetPhil continue to be enhanced with key soloists and higher quality music, all the while maintaining the roots of a community orchestra. 
Picture
Even as our ticket prices for the WMP have risen, they cover less than 20% of concert costs. That said, we are PROUD than we have been able to keep ticket prices for 18 & under at $5. We WANT the whole family to attend! We WANT to encourage youngsters to attend orchestral/classical music concerts as way to promoting a lifelong enjoyment. We WANT musicians to have future audiences! 

​Your donations support this!
0 Comments

Yesterday was Giving Tuesday 2025!

12/3/2025

0 Comments

 
Make your end-of-year gift!
​Across the globe, Giving Tuesday has become a rallying point for raising awareness to one’s community.  It’s a chance to “give back.”  WMPA has been  offering high-quality orchestral music to the area for 54 years. ​
Picture

There's still time to "line up" your donations!  ​

While I missed a Thanksgiving post to "get your turkeys in a row," let's move forward to another holiday. ​
Picture
Have you generated your “plan” for your End of Year donations?  It may be too late to set up some of the stock-related tax strategy vehicles for THIS year, but itemized deductions still may work. Even without regard to tax benefits, your donation means a great deal to WMPA: You VALUE music and its power to bring a community together. 

Save a stamp! ​

Pile up your airline miles or hotel points or whatever bonus onto your credit card donation – it goes to work instantly!  
 
Write us one of those old-fashioned checks right now, or as a Qualified Charitable Distribution, so we get it in time.  (Note: Any check in the DMV over $1,500 payable to WMPA, I’ll come pick up!)   ​

WMPA Gives Back

​Like most non-profits, our Board members are volunteers. WMPA has no full-time paid staff. Zero. Our part-time contracted staff of music/executive directors all contribute in-kind services as well, and work long hours. I’m blown away by their enthusiasm and dedication
Picture
​The musicians of WashMetPhil, both paid and unpaid, contribute hundreds of hours of practice and rehearsal time. The sound engineer and photographer are volunteers. (You won’t believe the hours John has spent calculating the audio requirements for our lovely soloist for the December 14 concert: he wants it be a full ‘Judy Garland’ experience!)  We have a music library which had long been housed in Ul’s garage. Organizing the Lyceum performers for summer Sunday chamber music has been a labor of love and volunteer spirit. Do you see a smiling face greeting you or scanning your ticket at a concert: also a volunteer. The list goes on. This is the kind of dedication to bringing music to the community that WMPA relies on as much as your financial support.  

​WMYO/WMCO  ​

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the excitement of both the Youth Orchestra and the Concert Orchestra students, too. These young musicians WANT to play, not just their individual instruments but as an orchestra.  It is special.  Maybe I’ll see you at their concert at Bishop Ireton on Saturday night December 6 at 7pm.  
It’s FREE, with open seating, no tickets required.  Come and HEAR for yourself!  The energy and joy they bring to the stage is contagious, and free concerts like this are a gift to the community.
 
WMPA gives back, and not just on Tuesdays. Won’t you? Visit our Make a Gift webpage
0 Comments

Still time for tax-wise strategies for 2025!

11/18/2025

0 Comments

 
Make Your End-of-year gift!
Sure, it seems non-profits are “in business” to raise money. While non-profits “do good”, even with lots of volunteers and donated time & services, IT TAKES MONEY to cover expenses. WMPA has a long list of direct costs!  

Where does the money go?  ​

Here is a VERY short example listing of how/where just $2,000 goes:

  • Venues cost money: rent for one WMP concert, or two dress rehearsals, at Masonic.
  • Scholarships for youth: about one-third of the scholarships awarded to our young musicians. (Come to their free Saturday night concert Dec. 6th at Bishop Ireton HS, which we rent)
  • Insurance: annual liability and other insurance 
  • Music Rental: for scores for two concerts, depending on the pieces
  • Principal wind/brass musicians: just one concert 
  • Programs: Like the feel and info in the printed programs? Good. The printing alone costs that much for a season.
Perhaps you’ll consider DOUBLING your gift.  
We look to reach $100,000 by Dec 31, with our 2025 End-of-Year Campaign 

Some ABC's to save you money! ​

There is still time to arrange for special transfers.
​Get Your LLAMAS in a Row!  
 
DAF – QCD – IRA – RMD – AGI??
Think about both this year and next year!
 
Too big an “ask”? Set up monthly recurring donations

Many tax strategies are shown on our Make a Gift page.
Picture
0 Comments

Time to get your ducks in a row tax-wise for 2025!

11/11/2025

0 Comments

 
Make Your End-Of-Year Gift!
Picture
Another blog might be about me.  This one is about you.  How much do the arts and music mean to you? Can you be bold in helping with our 2025 End-of-Year Campaign to reach $100,000 by Dec 31? How can you be “instrumental” in supporting WMPA? ​

​Giving to WMPA can save you money! 

Tips for Taxes

Arrange now while still time!
Many tax strategies are shown on our Make a Gift webpage. Your tax advisor may have more strategies. 
  • Avoid capital gains! Use a Donor Advised Fund to send us a check or simply give us your appreciated stock.
  • Age Rocks!  Consider Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) to WMPA from IRA accounts. Or make us a tax-free part of your Required Minimum Distribution.
  • Consider a legacy. Make a multi-year pledge. Contact us.
  • Cash Rocks! We also love other checks or credit cards for “cash” donations. Consider making these monthly giving amounts! 

Why Give to WMPA?

Your donations to Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic and our two youth ensembles can make a difference in sustaining WMPA’s future.  We rely heavily on individual donors!  This means YOU.
 
Our mission is to uplift and unite the community through music. WMP is a community orchestra of professional, semi-professional and volunteer musicians, with AMAZING sound and talent!  We are a 501(c)(3) organization which was founded in 1971, and has been bringing high quality transformative orchestral and classical experiences to audiences and nurturing the next generation of musicians ever since. 

​What a legacy!  What a future!
 
In another post, I’ll touch on some of the costs involved to bring our concerts to the community.
0 Comments
    Margaret Ballard
    WMPA President
    Margaret has been a Board member since 2022 and was acting treasurer until September 2024 when she was elected as Vice President of the Board. She was elected Board President in September 2026. 
Picture
SIGN UP FOR WMPA E-NEWS
  • HOME
  • Concerts & Tickets
  • Make a Gift
    • We love our Donors!
    • Margaret's Musings
    • Business Partnerships
    • Volunteer
  • The Philharmonic
    • Music Director Anna Binneweg
    • AfterChats with Anna
    • Meet the Philharmonic
    • Philharmonic Auditions
    • Past Concerts
    • Musicians Login
  • Youth Orchestras
    • Youth Orchestras
    • Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra
    • Washington Metropolitan Concert Orchestra
    • Youth Orchestra Auditions
    • Tuition
    • Past Concerts
  • Purpose, Mission & Vision
  • Meet Our People
  • News & Press
    • Media Image Gallery
  • Contact