Orchestras around the nation have responded in a variety of ways to the challenges of becoming more diverse and accessible institutions. Some have developed fellowship programs designed to support African American and Latino musicians moving from their formal music education into the ranks of professional players. The League of American Orchestras, which has a long[…]
Read MoreThe El Sistema movement has swept the American orchestral world, with a considerable number of the almost 120 after-school programs affiliated with a professional symphony orchestra. Polyphonic has written frequently about some of these orchestra-sponsored El Sistema programs. The Baltimore Symphony’s OrchKids program and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s YOLA program are perhaps the best known,[…]
Read MoreNPR had a very nice piece about the NY Philharmonic’s new Music Director, Jaap van Zweden, on their evening “All Things Considered” program. You can listen here. It even includes a lesson on pronouncing his name! — Ann Drinan
Read MoreOnly people who serve on orchestra committees can really understand the impact of such volunteerism on their families. That impact can be substantial, both good and bad. One example of the positive impact of such service is this article by Jennifer Mondie, a member of the National Symphony Orchestra whose activism was clearly inspired and[…]
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22 Orchestras Receive Getty Education and Community Investment Grants from the League of American Orchestras Intended to help stimulate growth and excellence in education and community engagement programming, the grants will fund orchestras’ long-term in-school and after-school music programs with social development components, as well as orchestras’ health and wellness programs for populations including hospital[…]
Read MoreThe musicians of the Hartford Symphony took a very difficult vote last Sunday night, after a lengthy but collegial discussion. The result was ratification of management’s “best and final” offer, which includes very significant pay cuts for the Core musicians. The entire package was a 38% reduction in musician compensation. Musicians in Hartford are closely watching developments[…]
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File this one under the category of “fascinating music school history.” According to Vincent Lenti’s 2004 book, “For the Enrichment of Community Life: George Eastman and the Founding of the Eastman School of Music,” the famed Finnish composer Jean Sibelius very nearly became a faculty member of the Eastman School to teach music theory and[…]
Read MoreDuring a recent conference call among the Polyphonic team, the question arose about whether orchestra musicians ever make musical political statements. Certainly many orchestras performed for “Musicians Against Nuclear Arms” (MANA) back in the 1970s and 1980s. I personally put together a concert with the Hartford Symphony and other area musicians in 1985, featuring Benita[…]
Read MoreIt’s not often a story this inspiring comes out of our business: Many people speak about the healing power of music, and I was lucky enough to be able to experience the truth of the idea. In the summer of 2013, I traveled with my now-wife then co-dreamer Lauren to the Middle East to bring[…]
Read MoreJoseph (Joey) Silverstein passed away suddenly yesterday of an apparent heart attack at the age of 83. A student of Efrem Zimbalist, William Primrose, Josef Gingold and Mischa Mischakof, Mr Silverstein was a former prize winner at the Queen Elisabeth and Walter W Naumburg International Violin Competitions. He served as Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony for[…]
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