CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Community Music Live!, formerly known as the Charleston Music Association, is shutting its doors next week after more than 80 years of entertainment in the Kanawha Valley.
The group will perform their last event called “Galleria Season” at the University of Charleston April 19 at 3 p.m.
Richard Wolford, president of the music association, said board members wanted 500 new paying subscribers, but they were not able to meet that requirement.
Woldford said their supporters have been around for a long time, but they could not bring in enough younger people.
“Our supporters were basically either moving, retiring, or passing away,” said Wolford.
Community Music Live! is a volunteer organization. Wolford said the only source of income is through their memberships and donations.
Wolford said the music association could not keep up with the competition between them and the Clay Center in Charleston. He said a lot of the acts the Clay Center showcased, with the exception of the symphony, were the same type of acts they brought in.
“It was beginning to be a duplication of efforts,” said Wolford, ” We didn’t think that we would have any more success if we would’ve continued.”
Wolford said he’ll miss a lot of what the music association had to offer.
“We brought, in my opinion, world class entertainment at the cheapest price in town,” said Wolford.
Their last event will showcase Susan Ruth who will be painting during the show, with screens on both sides of the stage to show her work.
Wolford said they wanted to end on a high note, instead of dwelling on the sadness of shutting down.
He said they will be supporting another organization in the arts when the time comes, but for now, they are excited to put on one final performance.