Last Week’s Program – Piccolo Spoleto Festival

June 1, 2010: Valerie Morris introduced the Rotary Club’s featured guest, Ms. Ellen Moryl, Director of the Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs. Ms. Moryl spotlighted some of the kick off events that have already been held successfully. In her words, “it is just thrilling to see how the young kids play like pros … the magic and beauty of the arts should be in everyone’s life.”

The festival is so important to the life and economy of Charleston and is an important piece of the city’s international reputation. Recently, the festival was written about in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, among many other publications and internet outlets.

A recent Darla Moore School of Business survey pegged the economic impact of the full run of the festival at about $67 million. Tickets for events range from $7 – $51 with many free access events available across the city. All in, the city will produce nearly 900 events in two weeks.

Ms. Moryl introduced fellow Rotarian John Tecklenburg (professor at The Citadel) who provided an overview of the Charleston Jass Initiative. Of note, one of John’s uncles was the well-renowned jazz innovator Joseph “Fud” Livingston, who had an illustrious career as a big band arranger working with the likes of Duke Ellington and many other greats.

John then provided our meeting with an exceptional treat when the band took up their instruments (AND VOICE) to play “I’m Through with Love.” What an entertaining time! Be sure not to miss their work during the Charleston Spoleto.

The meeting concluded when featured guest, Ellen Moryl, ran the drawing for several tickets to Spoleto events.

Submitted by Mark Danes, Keyway Committee