The Savoy Society has a tradition of service to the community, which we perform in several ways:
From the outset, Savoy has supported a local charity. We’ve done this by offering our show program without charge, but encouraging patrons to make a contribution to our ‘Wishing Well’. The proceeds are forwarded to the agency, and we add to the amount when we can. In the past we have supported the Children’s Wish Foundation and over the years we have raised over $75,000 in this fashion. We will continue to support the Children’s Wish Foundation in the 2017 year.
- For the annual Kiwanis Music Festival, we sponsor the Robert Van Dine Scholarship for the Gilbert and Sullivan music category. This scholarship is named after our first Music Director. The 2017 recipient is Sadie Laflamme-Snow.
My name is Sadie Laflamme-Snow and I am a vocal student in the Ottawa Kiwanis Music festival who has had the honour to receive the Savoy Society Robert Van Dine Memorial Award. I wanted to thank you sincerely for your contribution of this award and support of this wonderful festival. I have learnt so much about music through the opportunities the festival provides and none of this could have been possible without donors such as yourself.
Past winners include:
2017 – Sadie Laflamme-Snow
2016 – Samantha Pierre
- Where we can, we take the music of Gilbert and Sullivan to those who would otherwise not be able to hear and enjoy it. In recent seasons we have been holding our orchestra rehearsal at the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Care Centre, enabling the residents there to hear and enjoy the music of the show that we are presenting that season.
- In February 2013, we hosted a charity benefit night to support the CHEO foundation.
- Until 2010 we presented a Benefit Performance, which took place on the Thursday evening before the public Opening Night, to which we invited individuals who could not otherwise enjoy the humour and charm of Gilbert & Sullivan. Some 800 complimentary tickets are made available annually through more than 50 agencies to seniors’ centres and residences and a wide variety of community support groups. Savoy hopes to renew this tradition as soon as possible.