Volunteer fundraising organization Syracuse Symphony Association, Inc. is changing both its name and its mission.

The Syracuse Sounds of Music Association, Inc. will concentrate on supporting music throughout Central New York. The organization will operate as it did while supporting the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra.

The organization recently had its name change approved by New York State officials, and is ready to begin fundraising and educating people about local music.

Though the organization’s Encore Thrift Shop, located in Fayetteville, has remained open, the Syracuse Symphony Association was affected by the Syracuse Symphony’s bankruptcy. The store, however, will remain open and SSMA volunteers will continue to manage and work it. All proceeds from the store support local music. For example, in February, the SSMA board voted to give funds for scholarships to the Syracuse Symphony Youth and String Orchestras, now at Syracuse University.

SSMA members are in the process of planning events for next year, including a membership event in September and an annual fundraising dinner in October.

Sally Whittle Scholarship awarded

At the Syracuse Sounds of Music Association’s annual meeting on June 4, the organization awarded the Sally Whittle Scholarship for Music Excellence to John Krause, a senior at Chittenango High School. Krause plans to attend the New England Conservatory in the fall.

The scholarship, which has been awarded for many years to a student who is planning to pursue music in college, was established in memory of an Association board member.