In September 2012, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will become Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He recently sat down with us to share some thoughts on Community as he gets ready to take the helm. It turns out Philadelphia might just be the perfect place for him. Was it written in the stars?
April, 2012
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Yannick Nézet-Séguin – Music Director Designate of the Philadelphia Orchestra – On Community
Topic: Community | Tags: philadelphia orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
April 25, 2012 by Beth Hondl | Comments (0)
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Event video: Talking About Creativity Roundtable and Audience Q&A
One last video from our Talking About Creativity event in San Francisco is now available for viewing — the roundtable discussion and audience Q&A.
Read the Talking About Creativity Roundtable transcript (pdf)
Participants include: Mark Clague, Professor of Music, University of Michigan; Ed Sanders, Group Marketing Manager, Creative Lab at Google; Margo Drakos, cellist and Co-founder, InstantEncore; John Adams, composer; Mason Bates, composer; Brent Assink, Executive Director, San Francisco Symphony; and Steven Winn, San Francisco arts journalist and critic.
Topic: Creativity | Tags: brent assink, ed sanders, john adams, margo drakos, mark clague, mason bates, steven winn, video
April 23, 2012 by Beth Hondl | Comments (0)
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To Tweet or Not To Tweet – A Changing Relationship with the Audience
“Tweet Seats.”
That’s the usual term for one of the most controversial ideas in the orchestral world these days. Mention the idea of tweeting during a concert and you’ll likely get a strong response. Love it or hate it, people have an opinion.
In some ways, that’s good. The controversy around tweet seats often focuses on the physical disruption of the phone (the light! the tapping!), but it can also serve as a proxy to discuss the changing relationship of the audience to symphonic music. Rather than setting the music on a pedestal, with a silent, reverent audience listening in the dark… are we moving to a more interactive relationship? One where the audience is taking part in the performance in a way? Commenting, sharing, promoting, criticizing and responding. If so, how does that change the nature of our organizations? And our concerts?
A recent Conducting Business podcast from radio station WQXR explores these issues with three guests: Brent Assink, executive director of the San Francisco Symphony; John Schaefer, host of WNYC’s Soundcheck and New Sounds; and Christopher Pinelo, vice president of communications for the Cincinnati Symphony, who oversees the organization’s social media activities. Naomi Lewin leads the discussion.
It’s a fascinating conversation. Take a listen.
Topic: Audience | Tags: tweet seats, wqxr
April 18, 2012 by Beth Hondl | Comments (0)
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The Cleveland Orchestra: No Longer Business as Usual
Like many organizations, The Cleveland Orchestra has faced challenges the last few years, but challenges aren’t always a bad thing. The flip-side of challenge is opportunity and as a recent article by Zachary Lewis in the San Francisco Classical Voice puts it:
For better or worse, it’s not business as usual at the Cleveland Orchestra. The atmosphere today is one of determination, of long-overdue gameness to collaborate, experiment, open up. Read the full article.
The orchestra offers free tickets to summer concerts at the Blossom Music Center for all children 18 and under. They’ve also launched a popular Fridays@7 concert series, featuring an earlier start time, no intermission, and an after party. The orchestra’s Center for Future Audiences–started in 2010 and funded by a $20 million grant–ensures that such initiatives will have long-term financial and organizational backing.
The orchestra is also expanding the definition of community by performing regularly in Miami, recently announcing a four week residency (more…)
Topic: Audience, Community, Creativity | Tags: cleveland orchestra, gary hanson
April 10, 2012 by Beth Hondl | Comments (0)
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Video: Michael Tilson Thomas – Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony – on Creativity
Michael Tilson Thomas, Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony, talks about the different meanings of Creativity in the orchestral world. This video draws together highlights from our March 2012 event.
Topic: Creativity | Tags: mtt, san francisco symphony, video
April 5, 2012 by Beth Hondl | Comments (0)
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Video: Michael Tilson Thomas – Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony – on Audiences
In addition to being Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas leads the New World Symphony in Florida — a group whose mission it is to prepare highly-gifted young musicians for leadership roles in orchestras and ensembles around the world. At our live event in March, he discussed how his work there also involves exploring new ways to interact with the audience.Topic: Audience | Tags: mtt, new world symphony, san francisco symphony, video
April 3, 2012 by Beth Hondl | Comments (0)
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Podcast: Chapter Four – The World Has Changed
No orchestra, large or small, ever has a settled relationship with its community. It’s always a thing in flux, dynamic, fluid, fragile and complex. Whether it’s how to attract new audiences, invigorate connections to current concertgoers or tap the power of technology, orchestras are facing–and not always meeting–unprecedented challenges to remain vital.
This podcast was developed from our behind-the-scenes conversations with leaders from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Chapter Four – The World Has Changed
Play | Download | Transcript
Topic: Community | Tags: access, anna clyne, anthony fogg, boston symphony orchestra, chicago symphony, deborah rutter, james sommerville, lawrie bloom, mark volpe, martha gilmer, podcast, steven lester, steven winn
April 3, 2012 by Beth Hondl | Comments (4)