Grant to Philharmonic Society Increased : Music: Arts Council boosts group’s rating, more than doubles year’s original award to $39,051.

The California Arts Council on Friday announced a grant of $39,051 to the Orange County Philharmonic Society, more than double the amount originally awarded for the year.

In September, the society--far and away the prime sponsor of classical music in Orange County--was awarded $19,313 by the council, an 18% drop from last year, and was given a 3-plus rating on a 4-point scale for artistic achievement and managerial strength. Over the previous six years, the Society had received five ratings of 4, the top score, and one of 4-minus.

At the time, some council grant advisory panelists said the society’s community outreach programs were “somewhat insular,” questioning whether the programs reached a wide ethnic variety of schoolchildren. The society appealed the grant amount and rating.

Friday, arts council officials said they now feel that the panelists were overly harsh in their assessment. Upon further review, they said, the council determined that the outreach programs are “outstanding.”

The society is “a very vital organization for the children of Orange County,” said council Executive Director Joanne C. Kozberg. The society’s rating was increased to 4-minus.

“We’re very pleased our appeal was considered favorably and I think it corrects an enormous error in judgment on the part of the panel that reviewed our proposal,” said society Executive Director Erich A. Vollmer.

The society had expressed outrage at the initial rating, faxing a letter to the council noting that the organization reaches roughly 300,000 children annually through 13 outreach programs involving more than 400 Orange County schools in every school district.

The society operates on an annual budget of $2.3 million.