Our Volunteers have Spirit!
A live performing arts venue, The Music Hall relies on hundreds of volunteers to serve as the face of the organization, meeting the needs of our thousands of patrons. When we heard about Volunteer New Hampshire’s Spirit of NH Awards, recognizing individuals and groups who provide volunteer services that strengthen communities and improve the lives of New Hampshire residents, we knew it would be an ideal opportunity to recognize our outstanding volunteers. As no one has more Music Hall spirit than the incomparable Ann Elliott, we nominated her and are delighted to announce that she has been selected to receive a Volunteer Service Award!!!
We have many positions here at The Music Hall that we ask our volunteers to fill: scanning tickets, walking people to their seats, running our coat check, serving popcorn, and facilitating receptions and events. Ann is more than willing to do any and all of those jobs and has also invented her own roles, finding inspired ways to take action and make a difference. In our nomination, we recounted how this summer, for example, if tickets for a Live Under the Arch outdoor concert event were slow to sell, Ann would grab a stack of flyers and hit the streets of Portsmouth to spread the word. She is single-handedly responsible for selling dozens of tickets. Whatever we are presenting, Ann can be seen around town engaging passersby, encouraging them to attend Music Hall shows, and generating the word-of-mouth excitement that draws an audience.
Ann and her husband Tim, also a regular volunteer, are long-time members and devoted fans of The Music Hall (read more about their experience in our Member Spotlight interview). Her 23 years of service have made Ann incredibly knowledgeable and she is the first to answer questions about our 1878 venue and its history. When she comes to volunteer, Ann brings a positive attitude, a smiling face, and an amazing work ethic; she is always willing to go the extra mile to make someone’s day. That makes her a great colleague as well as an incredible representative as she interacts with you, our members and patrons.
It is because of volunteers like Ann that The Music Hall has not only survived but continues to grow in these trying times. We offer our gratitude and congratulations to Ann, and encourage you to offer your appreciation next time you interact with a Music Hall volunteer!