The past several years have been challenging for organizations of every size and stripe. The impact of a global pandemic, the upsetting of the natural order of things and the changes in work and leisure have in many ways turned the world upside down.
So, it is no surprise that these forces have impacted the arts, including the organization I represent, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. In addition to our stage being shuttered for two seasons with no live performances, regional symphony orchestras have faced strong headwinds as audiences spend their discretionary dollars in a myriad of ways. Also, there have been legitimate criticisms of the world of symphonic music that it lacks diversity and it is time to reimagine this incredible art form.
So, when I took over the reins of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra two years ago, first as Interim Director and last year as permanent President and CEO, I recognized that we had to do things differently, and to engage our beloved community in a deeper way.
A little over a year ago I sat down with Marjorie and Rick Hurst to talk about engaging the community and offering performances that project the true diversity of the art form of symphonic music. In our first full season since the pandemic, I think we achieved that with a blend of diverse musical talent, in both our guest conductors and featured soloists. We also staged successful Pops concerts that brought a reflection of our diversity into Symphony Hall; many in attendance were there for the first time. We celebrated the life of Martin Luther King Jr. in a dedicated concert and concluded our season with a first-ever Juneteenth celebration that featured the iconic jazz artist Avery Sharpe and the voice of local legend Vanessa Ford.
Sorry for the pun, but we are ready for an encore in the coming season. I am happy to share the highlights of the coming season and invite every reader to consider joining us for a memorable performance or to become a season subscriber. We will welcome you with open arms.
Looking ahead, our full 2023-24 season will offer six Classical concerts and two Pops concerts, bringing renowned guest conductors and artists to Springfield. This season will feature a mix of evening concerts and matinées to accommodate audiences of all ages. Our two very talented youth orchestras will hold a series of performances (and we’d love to have new young, talented musicians join us!). We also plan to host the second annual Juneteenth celebration, and the return of educational performances for public school students.
Our season opens on October 14 with “A Festive 80th Anniversary Year,” featuring female Taiwanese-American Conductor, Mei-Ann Chen and a young rising star, violinist Amaryn Olmeda, sought after for her bold and expressive performances as a soloist and collaborator. Olmeda won first prize at the 24th Annual Sphinx Competition in 2021 at the age of 12.
On November 4 we’ll present “Heavenly” with performances of Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony No. 41 and Holst’s The Planets, showcasing the voices of the Springfield Symphony Chorus.
We will celebrate the life and spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., in January, a tradition that began in our 2022-23 season, with “Classics & Jazz.” The evening will feature Damien Sneed, pianist, vocalist, composer, conductor, producer and arts educator whose work spans multiple genres. The concert will feature a mix of classical as well as jazz pieces, including the world premiere of A Symphonic Homage to The Duke (Duke Ellington Tribute), composed by Sneed. In recent years, Sneed embarked on a 40-city North American tour, “We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Our Pops concerts are audience favorites, this season featuring ”Jolly Holiday” on December 9 with the Springfield Symphony Chorus and guest vocalist Michael Lynche, an American R&B singer and songwriter who was the fourth place finalist on the ninth season of American Idol.
We’re excited to bring Cuban and Spanish-infused music to Symphony Hall with the second Pops concert of the season, “Havana Nights” on Saturday, February 10, 2024. The concert will be highlighted by performances by the Mambo Kings and soloist Camille Zamora, who performed during last year’s Holiday Pops.
Also, we have “Fantasias” on March 9, 2024, featuring the music of Beethoven and the Springfield Symphony Chorus; “An American Celebration” on April 6, featuring two iconic pieces of American music: Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite, and George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue; and on May 18, “Magic and Glory,” with the return of one of our 2022-23 season’s incredible female guest conductors, Tania Miller.
Concert tickets start at $25, and can be purchased on the Springfield Symphony Orchestra website, SpringfieldSymphony.org or by calling 413-733-2291. Tickets are also available the night of each concert beginning at 6pm at Symphony Hall. And we would love if you would become a subscriber and be part of all of this coming season’s offerings.
I want to thank Point of View for allowing us to tell our story and establishing a partnership with the Symphony. We will continue to strive to engage all in our community and we look forward to new and diverse offerings through the beautiful music our world class musicians perform in our magnificent Symphony Hall. I look forward to seeing you at a concert. ■