**IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2020-2021 Season**

Dear Friend of FME,

On behalf of the board of directors of The Friends of Music at Emanuel, I write to inform you about FME’s decisions related to the 2020-2021 season. Normally at this time of year you would receive a brochure detailing the upcoming concerts, and an invitation to financially support the wonderful musicians scheduled to bring us so much pleasure in the months ahead. Your past support has kept FME going strong, and we looked forward to this tenth anniversary year with great anticipation.

As we all know and have experienced, the spread of Covid 19 has turned much of life on its head, and arts organizations have not been immune. With much regret, the FME board felt compelled to cancel the remaining concerts last spring out of an abundance of caution for the wellbeing of both performers and all who attend. Since then, and amid growing uncertainty about restrictions on audience size, social distancing, mask requirements, the availability of the Emanuel Lutheran Church sanctuary, as well as the future course of the virus itself, the board has made the difficult decision to suspend the 2020-2021 season in its entirety, and thus postpone the anticipated tenth anniversary season to 2021-2022. In the coming months, the board will work diligently to assemble another season of great interest and artistic merit that will celebrate FME’s milestone anniversary beginning in October, 2021.

Your continuing interest in FME is vitally important, and we greatly appreciate your understanding of these developments even as we eagerly look forward to welcoming you back in the fall of 2021.

With all best wishes for your health and happiness,

Sincerely,

Robert Galloway, Program Director
Friends of Music at Emanuel, Inc.