What Professional Organizations Can Learn from Community Orchestras

Are professional orchestras pursuing artistic excellence at the cost of a true sense of community? In this blog post, Sam Tepperman-Gelfant argues that professional groups must “take the process of building community as seriously as they do perfecting their performances.” This post is the second of three winning entries from our recent American Orchestra Forum blog contest.

Blog contest winner Sam Tepperman-Gelfant

Community: it’s not just a polite word for amateur, it is the heart and soul of America’s thriving non-professional symphonies. Community orchestras deftly bridge the gap between classical performance and contemporary life that presents a daunting challenge to the future of classical music in this country. Building community is all about building relationships. The web of personal connections among performers, audience members, and the music itself give these groups a consistent energy and audience that many professional groups struggle to achieve.

I’ve played cello in the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony (BARS), for nearly five years now, and it’s hard to imagine life without it. Wednesday evenings I leave behind the workday to spend time with Brahms and Ravel, and also with my stand partner, David, and the other close friends I’ve made through the group. Many of us haven’t been motivated to practice since high school or college, but the camaraderie and connection we feel with each other has rekindled our passion. Ranging in age from 19 to 70-something, we work hard, goof off, and feed off of each other’s energy. BARS offers a particular sense of community because it is a GLBT orchestra, but the basic bond among the musicians is the same one I’ve experienced in other community groups and youth orchestras.

Of course it’s not just about us – four times a year 400 or so of our friends, family, teammates, neighbors, and assorted other fans turn out to listen to our concerts. They are just as much a part of the BARS community as the members of the group – partnering with us over the years to create the sense of community that sustains us. While some are classical music lovers and regular concertgoers, many others are more likely to put on Gaga or Kanye when they get home. They come out and keep coming back because they feel a sense of connection to the group, and through the group to the music that we play.

Bay Area Rainbow Symphony

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