Prelude
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f you’re wondering whether the cultural climate for orchestras is changing, consider this: you can now watch an orchestra concert—by some definitions the apogee of the live, grand, communal artistic experience—on your cell phone. Often for free. Every day, myriad apps are unleashed that put orchestras and classical music on your iPhone, Android, or other digital device. (Chatting with tech-obsessed friends about this magazine, their first question is always, can I read it on my iPad? Yes.) While all that’s great news for classical music being woven smoothly into the daily fabric of busy lives, it sometimes feels as if the non-virtual experience is turning into something quaintly called real life. But it’s the delivery method, not the core of the art, that’s shifting. The art of music-making remains difficult, disciplined, and deeply inspiring. This issue of Symphony looks at how orchestras are coping with today’s cultural and financial challenges. At the National Conference in June, League President and CEO Jesse Rosen delivered an address, “Orchestras at the Crossroads,” that tackled head-on the hard truths about audience demographics and the economy; we’ve got the entire speech starting on page 14. Following up on another Conference session, Rosen speaks with nonprofit finance expert Susan Nelson, who makes the surprising and counterintuitive case that arts organizations need to set aside money for artistic risk— even during a recession. Elsewhere, League electronic media consultants Joe Kluger and Michael Bronson argue that orchestras must devote the same attention to electronicmedia strategies that they do to financial and artistic imperatives. And we look at an unusual turnaround scheme, centennial plans that celebrate the community as much as the orchestra, and how the pops canon is being redefined.
The Magazine of The L e a g u e o f Am e r i c a n O r c h e s t r a s
symphony®, the award-winning quarterly magazine of the League of American Orchestras, discusses issues critical to the orchestra community and communicates to the American public the value and importance of orchestras and the music they perform. editor in chief Robert Sandla
senior editor Chester Lane
Managing Editor Jennifer Melick
Assistant Editor Ian VanderMeulen
Production and design Manager Michael Rush
Advertising director Stephen Alter
Senior associate for Advertising Meghan Whitbeck Publisher Jesse Rosen Design/Art Direction Jeff Kibler
The Magazine Group Washington, DC Printed by Dartmouth Printing Co. Hanover, NH
symphony® (ISSN 0271-2687) is published
quarterly (January, April, July, October) for $25 per year by the League of American Orchestras, 33 W. 60th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10023-7905. Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY and additional entries. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Symphony, 33 W. 60th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10023-7905.
“Trail of Tears” Flute Concerto
A highly dramatic work for solo flute and chamber orchestra, composed for Amy Porter by GRAMMY winning composer Michael Daugherty.
Subscriptions and purchases
Annual subscription $25.00. To subscribe, call 646-822-4080 or send an e-mail to member@ americanorchestras.org. Current issue $6.25. Back issues available to members $6.95/non-members $8.45. Directory, 50th Anniversary, and other special issues: members $11.00/non-members $13.00.
Amy Porter “Porter, a charismatic performer, was focused, flexible and intensely in the moment. She tossed off fiendishly difficult passages as if they were child’s play and performed lyrical passages with heart-rending emotion.”
Address changes
Please send your name and your new and old addresses to Member Services at the New York office (address below), or send an e-mail to member@americanorchestras.org. Editorial and advertising Offices
– Omaha World-Herald
photo: Kristen Hoebermann
World premiere review of “Trail of Tears”
Composer Michael Daugherty
Tupelo Symphony Orchestra January 28, 2012 Arkansas Philharmonic February 18, 2012
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American Composers Orchestra Carnegie Hall March 22, 2012
33 W. 60th Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 10023-7905 E-mail (editorial): editor@americanorchestras.org E-mail (advertising): salter@americanorchestras.org Phone (advertising): 646-822-4051 Fax: 212-262-5198 © 2011 League of American Orchestras
symphony® is a registered trademark. Printed in the U.S.A.
Website
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