OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Leesburg Performing Arts Commission Meeting - June 25, 2026

Town Council & Commissions — Thursday, June 25, 2026
BodyLeesburg, Virginia
SessionTown Council & Commissions
DateThursday, June 25, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:15:42

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Survey announcement the ground strikes provide equal access to services regardless of race, color, national order.

0:13

Tell us the Sales or Communities needs.

0:14

It's how we appreciate members of the public.

0:16

They need a voluntary survey.

0:19

Access the survey, please scan the program.

0:22

Yeah.

0:23

We have more.

0:26

We do need, I think someone to make a motion to have Miriam and Tony join us.

0:34

So Margaret Science.

1:00

And then do I have an motion to adjust to adopt today's agenda?

1:12

I can't see all those in favor of aye.

1:21

Did they vote to?

1:22

Yes.

1:24

Did you guys vote to we're taking a vote to adopt the agenda?

1:30

All in favor, Marshall.

1:32

Yeah.

1:32

I think that's easier.

1:33

I think Mary's.

1:37

I'm sorry, it was disconnecting.

1:40

Okay.

1:40

We're just voting to adopt the agenda.

1:45

Yeah.

1:46

So seven zero zero.

1:53

Um the approval of the Mayend.

2:01

We should approve the main next room.

2:11

I cannot vote.

2:17

I'm having computer issues, and I can't call the attendance.

2:21

So I don't remember here.

2:22

Was everybody here last time?

2:24

If you were not everybody's time, you've not seen it.

2:26

Yeah, we were full of things.

2:27

We were all here except zero, one zero.

2:33

And Tony wasn't.

2:36

Tony wasn't here last time.

2:38

So five.

2:43

Okay.

2:44

That's eight.

2:45

So that's your top zero one, sir.

2:49

Shows the old everyone was here by the entire so it's five zero two.

3:05

We have no petitioners.

3:08

Um we have chair comments.

3:15

Do you have any commissioner comments?

3:18

Side pieces.

3:26

Well it'll it'll come up on the agenda, but I just wanted to mention that um I put in a proclamation request to dedicate the May um, I'm sorry, the August 15th concert in memory of Dr.

3:39

Stephen Cooksey, who was the music director at St.

3:43

James Episcopal Church for 46 years.

3:48

And uh the idea of having a cloud concert was actually came from hand.

3:53

That's great.

3:54

And that will assist with getting their staff to come with a venue with someone's coming to give a problem.

4:18

Okay, so now we're going to old business.

4:21

Um with someone or multiple people like to give a recap for the senior capital.

4:33

It was awesome.

4:36

I like that.

4:38

Yeah, set up breakdown attendance conversation before during after.

4:45

Uh it's engaging.

4:47

And uh I think many different uh performing arts groups that had representation there to share information.

5:00

Uh I thought was uh a great way to kind of uh to kind of like okay, we've talked about this, we've there's awareness that I think uh what's needed for the commission then so I felt like it was very reproductive.

5:13

Um yeah, I thought it came together nicely, um considering that this is a young commission.

5:19

Thank you, Peter, for all your coordination.

5:22

And um I thought it was neat because it was sort of dual populated.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████60%
Public Engagement██████████13%
Procedural████████11%
Community Events████████11%
Parks and Recreation██3%
Budget Equity Analysis██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Leesburg Performing Arts Commission Meeting - June 25, 2026

The Performing Arts Commission (PAC) met on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 12:30 PM. The meeting covered a recap of a recent senior capital event, planning for the Music of George Washington concert (August 15), selection of performing artists, budget adjustments, and the initial discussion of a senior facilities performance program.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Agenda: Motion to adopt the agenda passed 7-0.
  • Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the previous meeting (May) were approved 5-0-2 (five in favor, zero opposed, two abstentions).

Discussion Items

  • Senior Capital Event Recap: Commissioners reported on a successful networking event with approximately 60 attendees, including representatives from local arts groups and supporters of a dance performance. Positive feedback was noted, but site lines for the performance were challenging; a portable dance floor may be available for future events.
  • Proclamation for Dr. Stephen Cooksey: A proclamation was requested to dedicate the August 15 concert in memory of Dr. Stephen Cooksey, former music director at St. James Episcopal Church. The commission voted unanimously to recommend the proclamation to the Town Council.
  • Music of George Washington Concert – Venue: After discussion of accessibility and security concerns at St. James Episcopal Church, the commission voted to hold the concert in the sanctuary. A church representative (music director Mark) will be present to manage restroom access.
  • Artist Selection: Three submissions were reviewed. The two highest-scoring acts were selected: a violin ensemble (total 232 points) and a guitarist (total 228 points). A motion to select these two artists passed unanimously.
  • Artist Payment Adjustment: A motion to increase the artist payment for the violin ensemble from $600 to $1,200 (to cover six performers) was approved, with one commissioner dissenting. This will be presented to Town Council for final approval.
  • Event Schedule for August 15: The commission approved the following schedule: load-in at 12:30 PM, sound check 12:30–2:00 PM, house opens at 2:00 PM, violin set 2:30–3:15 PM, intermission 3:15–3:30 PM, guitarist set 3:30–4:15 PM, doors close at 4:30 PM.
  • Senior Facilities Performance Program: A commissioner presented a draft plan for a series of performances at six senior living facilities during the last week of January through the first week of February 2027. Options for artist compensation (e.g., $200 for soloists, $150 per person for duos/trios/quartets, $650 for larger ensembles) were outlined. The discussion was tabled to the July meeting for further refinement.
  • Program and MC Planning: The commission decided to forgo printed programs and rely on an MC to introduce artists and performers to introduce their pieces, in line with the low-tech, environmentally friendly nature of the event.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Agenda and Minutes (7-0 and 5-0-2).
  • Proclamation Recommendation: Unanimous vote to recommend council issue a proclamation honoring Dr. Stephen Cooksey and dedicate the August 15 concert.
  • Venue Approved: Sanctuary of St. James Episcopal Church as the concert location (unanimous).
  • Artists Selected: Violin ensemble and guitarist selected for the August 15 concert (unanimous).
  • Artist Payment Increased: $1,200 for the violin ensemble (majority vote).
  • Event Schedule Adopted: August 15, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
  • Senior Facilities Program Tabled: Further discussion scheduled for the July 2026 meeting.
  • Next Steps: Commissioner to contact artists and present the selections and budget change to Town Council on July 14, 2026. Commissioner will also follow up with St. James Church for final confirmation.
  • Meeting Adjourned at approximately 6:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Survey announcement the ground strikes provide equal access to services regardless of race, color, national order. Tell us the Sales or Communities needs. It's how we appreciate members of the public. They need a voluntary survey. Access the survey, please scan the program. Yeah. We have more. We do need, I think someone to make a motion to have Miriam and Tony join us. So Margaret Science. And then do I have an motion to adjust to adopt today's agenda? I can't see all those in favor of aye. Did they vote to? Yes. Did you guys vote to we're taking a vote to adopt the agenda? All in favor, Marshall. Yeah. I think that's easier. I think Mary's. I'm sorry, it was disconnecting. Okay. We're just voting to adopt the agenda. Yeah. So seven zero zero. Um the approval of the Mayend. We should approve the main next room. I cannot vote. I'm having computer issues, and I can't call the attendance. So I don't remember here. Was everybody here last time? If you were not everybody's time, you've not seen it. Yeah, we were full of things. We were all here except zero, one zero. And Tony wasn't. Tony wasn't here last time. So five. Okay. That's eight. So that's your top zero one, sir. Shows the old everyone was here by the entire so it's five zero two. We have no petitioners. Um we have chair comments. Do you have any commissioner comments? Side pieces. Well it'll it'll come up on the agenda, but I just wanted to mention that um I put in a proclamation request to dedicate the May um, I'm sorry, the August 15th concert in memory of Dr. Stephen Cooksey, who was the music director at St. James Episcopal Church for 46 years. And uh the idea of having a cloud concert was actually came from hand. That's great. And that will assist with getting their staff to come with a venue with someone's coming to give a problem. Okay, so now we're going to old business.

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