A Celebration of the Arts and America

One event in Clay County has been instrumental in keeping the arts alive, in encouraging our school age children to take up the arts, and in showing the entire County what a joy the arts can be. One event has celebrated the incredible gifts to us made by our veterans, gifts which have made us what we are today. Concert on the Green is that event.

Concert on the Green, initiated in 1988, is the second largest community event in Clay County and the single largest cultural event. It is a community wide celebration of the arts. The program offers a wholesome outing in a beautiful venue where families can enjoy arts entertainment and it raises much needed funds for Clay County arts programs and scholarships for our most talented students. The centerpiece of the event is the performance of The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (JSO). Concert on the Green is the only event in Clay County where the renowned JSO is heard in performance.

The Concert on the Green Young Artist Concerto Competition was initiated in 1990. A music audition is held annually for Clay County student musicians, and the winner performs as guest soloist with the JSO. In addition, a poster contest is held to recognize the talent of Clay County student visual artists. The winners of these competitions are awarded scholarships in order to encourage them to continue their artistic endeavors, and a donation is made to the school of each winner to assist in the continued education of the arts in Clay County. With the school funding cuts now a devastating reality, the schools are in dire need of these funds. Concert on the Green awarded scholarships to approximately twenty musicians and artists in 2009 and began a tradition that year of awarding two first place music scholarship winners, one vocal and one instrumental – with both students also being awarded the opportunity to perform with the JSO. Over $270,000 has been given over the past 22 years to Clay County students and schools. The Concert on the Green works under the Federal Tax Exempt structure as a 501[c][3] corporation and since 2009 is coordinated by the newly formed Rotary Club of Fleming Island.

Last year, over 4,000 residents supported the dreams of the scholarship winners by helping raise more than $54,000 needed to provide an affordable day filled with arts entertainment. With the anticipation of even further cuts to school budgets in 2010-2011, now is the time to help the dreams of our students come true by guaranteeing that Concert on the Green continues to be able to help them access the best arts education possible.