Even the Budget Earns Bravos at Mobile Symphony!
Jenine Baines
July 11, 2008
MOBILE, Ala. When the Mobile Symphony Orchestra (MSO) began offering Sunday afternoon performances at the Saenger Theatre in Mobile, Executive Director Stephen Hedrick and the Board of Directors hoped that the additional matinees would attract an audience of roughly 700 attendees. Yet, from the beginning, attendance far exceeded those cautious expectations. The least attended Sunday concert numbered over 1200 while the Disney Pops and Halloween Pops performances were complete sell outs.
The healthy audiences attracted to the four additional performances were especially welcome, Hedrick explained in a recent letter to the Board, because the MSO had committed to presenting the concerts without the "financial upside," of a Sunday Season subscription series. In other words, the orchestra assumed the extra expense of mounting the performances with no assurance whatsoever that a certain number of patrons would opt to become subscribers and, thus, fill the seats and help ´underwrite´ production costs.
"Financially this was a challenging year, but the musicians played their hearts out and the audience responded," says Hedrick. "It´s a real coup when you can present such bold creativity and, then, end the year in the black."
As Hedrick alluded, under the baton of Music Director Scott Speck, the Mobile Symphony continued to flourish artistically as well as fiscally this season. "Our performance with internationally renowned violinist Joshua Bell was nothing short of spectacular," says Hedrick. "And we´re already making plans to welcome yet another world class artist, the violinist Midori, to Mobile for a performance of Brahms´ Violin Concerto next spring."
Scott Speck insists that his MSO colleagues deserve an equally long round of applause. "Of course none of this would be possible without our musicians, who rightly receive a lot of praise. But I am so proud of the work that our Symphony board and staff have done behind the scenes to make this season a reality," he says. "Stephen Hedrick and his brilliant team, along with our stellar Board of Directors, continue to raise the bar for this organization. They have played a pivotal role in our ability to entice world class artists like Joshua Bell, Evelyn Glennie and Midori to perform in our city."
When Midori arrives in Mobile next April, she will do more than appear with the orchestra, however. The MSO is one of only two orchestras nationwide selected by the violinist to participate in a week-long Orchestra Residency Program. Midori designed the program not only to enhance her relationship with a professional orchestra´s staff and musicians but to offer invaluable support to youth orchestras in the community as well. In other words, Midori will spend much of the week performing and working with the Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra.
"Imagine making music with one of the most famous violinists in the world today. It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for our kids," says Education Director Sarah Wright.
Joining Midori throughout the 2008 -2009 season are a roster of equally acclaimed artists, including French pianist Alain Lefevre, who will open the season on September 13 and 14 with a performance of Gershwin´s Rhapsody in Blue; Scottish percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, who´ll perform the Percussion Concerto written especially for her by MSO Composer-in-Residence Kevin Puts on October 18 and October 19; "superb Swedish pianist (New York Times) Per Tengstrand performing Grieg´s Piano Concerto on January 17 and 18; and Russian cellist Alexandre Bouzlov, hailed by the New York Times for his "huge capacity to make the instrument sing," in a performance of Elgar´s Cello Concerto. In November, a bona fide prodigy – 9-year old Marc Yu – currently being mentored by the international star, pianist Lang Lang, will play Beethoven´s Piano Concerto No. 1 at "Beethoven and Blue Jeans" on November 8 and November 9.
The MSO´s pops series will be "family-friendly and fantastic," Hedrick promises. On the program this year are: The Wizard of Oz and Other American Classics on November 22 and November 23; a sparkling and perhaps even snowy Holiday Pops concert, with a guest appearance by a certain jolly gentleman in red; and, back by popular demand, a St. Paddy´s Day/Lord of the Rings concert series featuring the increasingly acclaimed Celtic quartet, Mithril, whose members include MSO musicians.
Without exception, the orchestra´s musicians echo management´s excitement about the symphony´s progress. "As I see it, it´s no accident we´ve christened the season The Universal Energy Series," says MSO principal flutist Andra Bohnet. "We have a once-in-a-decade opportunity before us – the chance to double our audience and double our positive impact on the community. But to create this magic, we have to keep the momentum going."
Already the Mobile Symphony Orchestra is off and running. "When I was at the League of American Orchestras conference in Denver a few weeks ago, people would walk up to me and say, ´I hear you´re doing great things down there in Mobile,´" the Executive Director recalls with a smile. "And that excitement began here, where the MSO is the talk of the town. People light up when you mention the symphony."
For more information about the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, its performances and educational outreach programs, visit the orchestra´s website at www.mobilesymphony.org. Subscriptions to the 2008-2009 "Universal Energy" series are now available. To purchase tickets – which range from $15 to $55 – call 251-432-7080 or order online after August 1, 2008. The Saenger Theatre is located at 6 South Joachim Street in Mobile.
The Mobile Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1970 as the Symphony Concerts of Mobile. Its mission was to present world-class touring orchestras such as Alabama Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for six evening concerts. In 1996, the Board of Directors decided that, to serve the educational, quality of life, and economic development needs of the community, it should create its own orchestra of local professional musicians.
Today, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, under Music Director Scott Speck, is the premier producer of live symphonic music in the Gulf Coast region. It is committed to enhancing the lives of every member of the community by achieving the highest standards in live symphonic music and music education.
The healthy audiences attracted to the four additional performances were especially welcome, Hedrick explained in a recent letter to the Board, because the MSO had committed to presenting the concerts without the "financial upside," of a Sunday Season subscription series. In other words, the orchestra assumed the extra expense of mounting the performances with no assurance whatsoever that a certain number of patrons would opt to become subscribers and, thus, fill the seats and help ´underwrite´ production costs.
"Financially this was a challenging year, but the musicians played their hearts out and the audience responded," says Hedrick. "It´s a real coup when you can present such bold creativity and, then, end the year in the black."
As Hedrick alluded, under the baton of Music Director Scott Speck, the Mobile Symphony continued to flourish artistically as well as fiscally this season. "Our performance with internationally renowned violinist Joshua Bell was nothing short of spectacular," says Hedrick. "And we´re already making plans to welcome yet another world class artist, the violinist Midori, to Mobile for a performance of Brahms´ Violin Concerto next spring."
Scott Speck insists that his MSO colleagues deserve an equally long round of applause. "Of course none of this would be possible without our musicians, who rightly receive a lot of praise. But I am so proud of the work that our Symphony board and staff have done behind the scenes to make this season a reality," he says. "Stephen Hedrick and his brilliant team, along with our stellar Board of Directors, continue to raise the bar for this organization. They have played a pivotal role in our ability to entice world class artists like Joshua Bell, Evelyn Glennie and Midori to perform in our city."
When Midori arrives in Mobile next April, she will do more than appear with the orchestra, however. The MSO is one of only two orchestras nationwide selected by the violinist to participate in a week-long Orchestra Residency Program. Midori designed the program not only to enhance her relationship with a professional orchestra´s staff and musicians but to offer invaluable support to youth orchestras in the community as well. In other words, Midori will spend much of the week performing and working with the Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra.
"Imagine making music with one of the most famous violinists in the world today. It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for our kids," says Education Director Sarah Wright.
Joining Midori throughout the 2008 -2009 season are a roster of equally acclaimed artists, including French pianist Alain Lefevre, who will open the season on September 13 and 14 with a performance of Gershwin´s Rhapsody in Blue; Scottish percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, who´ll perform the Percussion Concerto written especially for her by MSO Composer-in-Residence Kevin Puts on October 18 and October 19; "superb Swedish pianist (New York Times) Per Tengstrand performing Grieg´s Piano Concerto on January 17 and 18; and Russian cellist Alexandre Bouzlov, hailed by the New York Times for his "huge capacity to make the instrument sing," in a performance of Elgar´s Cello Concerto. In November, a bona fide prodigy – 9-year old Marc Yu – currently being mentored by the international star, pianist Lang Lang, will play Beethoven´s Piano Concerto No. 1 at "Beethoven and Blue Jeans" on November 8 and November 9.
The MSO´s pops series will be "family-friendly and fantastic," Hedrick promises. On the program this year are: The Wizard of Oz and Other American Classics on November 22 and November 23; a sparkling and perhaps even snowy Holiday Pops concert, with a guest appearance by a certain jolly gentleman in red; and, back by popular demand, a St. Paddy´s Day/Lord of the Rings concert series featuring the increasingly acclaimed Celtic quartet, Mithril, whose members include MSO musicians.
Without exception, the orchestra´s musicians echo management´s excitement about the symphony´s progress. "As I see it, it´s no accident we´ve christened the season The Universal Energy Series," says MSO principal flutist Andra Bohnet. "We have a once-in-a-decade opportunity before us – the chance to double our audience and double our positive impact on the community. But to create this magic, we have to keep the momentum going."
Already the Mobile Symphony Orchestra is off and running. "When I was at the League of American Orchestras conference in Denver a few weeks ago, people would walk up to me and say, ´I hear you´re doing great things down there in Mobile,´" the Executive Director recalls with a smile. "And that excitement began here, where the MSO is the talk of the town. People light up when you mention the symphony."
For more information about the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, its performances and educational outreach programs, visit the orchestra´s website at www.mobilesymphony.org. Subscriptions to the 2008-2009 "Universal Energy" series are now available. To purchase tickets – which range from $15 to $55 – call 251-432-7080 or order online after August 1, 2008. The Saenger Theatre is located at 6 South Joachim Street in Mobile.
The Mobile Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1970 as the Symphony Concerts of Mobile. Its mission was to present world-class touring orchestras such as Alabama Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for six evening concerts. In 1996, the Board of Directors decided that, to serve the educational, quality of life, and economic development needs of the community, it should create its own orchestra of local professional musicians.
Today, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, under Music Director Scott Speck, is the premier producer of live symphonic music in the Gulf Coast region. It is committed to enhancing the lives of every member of the community by achieving the highest standards in live symphonic music and music education.
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