Programming in a Pandemic from Original Concept to Variations Courtney Oliver
Marketing & Special Events Manager
Hello! In case we haven’t formally met yet, allow me to introduce myself: I am Courtney Oliver, Marketing and Special Events Manager for the Spartanburg Philharmonic. You may have seen me behind our marketing table at concerts or chatted with me on the phone when you purchased your subscription. When I joined the organization in July of last year the 20192020 concerts were already planned and announced and I excitedly dove in to telling the story of our “Locally Sourced” season. However, part of me was already excited to help plan the next. Trust me, there was plenty of excitement to be had in our 2019-2020 concerts, something I thoroughly enjoyed telling people about. However, a professional orchestra can never just concentrate on the season at hand. We are constantly thinking and planning for the next, and the season after that, and the season after that. It is a constant cycle that is as exhilarating as it is challenging to every member of the organization, because it truly does take the talents of the entire Philharmonic staff to create a season. While the music itself will always be the driver of each concert, it’s my job to tell the story of the season. I find the common theme woven through each concert’s 20
program to find new ways to add new interest to familiar and beloved symphonies, to engage new audiences, and quite frankly, convince all of you that it is a season worth spending with us. My work however, doesn’t truly begin until at least the core pieces or overall theme of a concert has been chosen, and that’s where we rely on the leadership of our Music Director, Stefan Sanders. His specific challenge each season is to select pieces from a vast catalogue of beloved classics and vibrant contemporary selections that work in harmony to make a must-see concert experience. It’s also a delicate balance of the mundane necessity (budget vs our “wishlist”) and creative inspiration. It is truly a team effort, as we alternate between collegially and passionately debating each other’s ideas and perspectives on everything from music selections to concert theme and everything in between. It is challenging, but ultimately rewarding work, as we build a season that we are incredibly proud to present to our family of classical music lovers. What happened after that is by now a familiar refrain. We launched our 2020/21 Season within weeks of the first coronavirus surge in the United States, and by midMarch performing arts organizations and businesses
