Flathead Valley LIVE on Stage dissolves

Flathead Valley LIVE on Stage, the longest-running performance arts presentation organization in the Flathead Valley, will not be returning this year after the board of directors voted to end operations after the 2016-2017 season. The difficult decision, reached in March of 2017, was made because of fierce competition for the entertainment dollar, a dwindling audience base and difficulty finding volunteers to fill critical board positions.

This completely volunteer-run organization started in 1938 under the name of Community Concerts. It was incorporated as Flathead Valley Community Concerts Association, Inc., a nonprofit, in 2006, and in 2013, it again rebranded as FVLOS, in association with the LIVE on Stage national organization.

In accordance with Montana’s regulations, FVLOS will distribute its assets to other nonprofits in the area. Its most valuable asset, a Steinway concert grand piano purchased by the group in 1990, will be gifted to the Glacier Symphony and Chorale. In addition to the piano, the board will also gift to Glacier Symphony and Chorale the remaining balance of the Piano Fund, which is restricted to funding future repair and maintenance of the piano.

In addition, the Emily Leighty Investment Fund — made possible by a bequest to FVLOS from Emily Leighty, a longtime resident and educator in the Flathead Valley, upon her death in 2008 at the age of 92 — will be given as restricted funds to the music departments of the following area schools: Flathead High School, Glacier High School, Kalispell Middle School, Evergreen Junior High School, Bigfork High School and Middle School, Columbia Falls High School and Junior High, and Whitefish High School and Middle School.

Any remaining funds, after all expenses and obligations are paid, will be donated to the Allen Slater Music Matters Scholarship.