The Utah Symphony and Opera have been rescued by a very large gift which is great news. A couple of articles about their situation got me thinking more about community outreach and how the tangible resonance of a hall needs to be matched with the resonance felt within and even beyond our communities. More importantly though, it’s now time for Orchestras to stop playing defense in this recession and start to become a player in getting America out of it!……We are faced with possibly the greatest opportunity ever to become relevant, so it’s time get off the bench and fight!…..
First I want to be clear that I don’t want to pile on Utah, but a number of things reported in their case seem to be the norm for many orchestras trying to get through our current national economic crisis. My suggestions are meant for everyone not just for them.
In this article from the Salt Lake Tribune a number of things jumped out at me, first this the opening paragraph:
Utah Symphony head Melia Tourangeau knew just what to do with the million-dollar gift her organization received last month from the Eccles Foundation. “I delivered it straight to our CFO so that we could make payroll,” Tourangeau said.
Now not to criticize someones honesty, but I wonder if there would be more resonance if something like this were stated:
“this will not only help fulfill our commitment to continue our subscription concerts but also just as or even more importantly the 10 concerts scheduled for thousands of 5th graders from numerous districts between February 1 and March 23″.
Suddenly the $1M is being used for the children in the community, and it is not spin! Emphasis on what the payroll is paying for (accountability), rather than who gets the actual money would better serve the cause. Later in the article, much later there is a mention of the 170,000 children the education program serves, but I am thinking it should be front and center….for every Orchestra!
Then this from Melia Tourangeau:
“We still have a long way to go to fix the immediate crisis and to continue through the next few years until the economy recovers,”
Rather that the “riding out the storm approach” that most seem to be taking, there needs to be a proactive approach with the mission to become one of the anchor organizations that actually helps the economy recover. This would not only better serve orchestras, but also show that we are leaders in helping to solve the crisis! We should be all making the argument that quality of life is an economic issue and that the cities best poised for the most rapid comebacks are the ones who have preserved the quality of life components that companies and individuals look for when deciding on expansion and relocation (this is also mentioned later in the article). Being proactive in this endeavor will I believe reap huge benefits as the organization will be seen a s a rescue organization rather than an organization that continually needs rescuing! Also, forming alliances with social service organizations, the tourism commission etc…is not just timely at this point for all of us but necessary for our future relevance and proof that we are indeed community service organizations.
I am puzzled by this statement:
Tourangeau said she won’t be asking the Utah Legislature to increase the symphony’s funding. “We don’t want to be looking like we are more special than anybody else out there,” she said. “The whole state is in a serious situation. If we could just hold onto the funding we’ve got, I would see that as a huge accomplishment.”
Wait not more special than the other major Symphony/Opera companies in Utah? Seriously they are one of a kind, and a full throated campaign to the legislature for more funding should be implemented outlining the work the organization does within the community, the tourism it attracts, the education it provides, not to mention the incredible concessions the musicians recently made to prove their commitment to the organization and to the region. If our organizations are as important as we believe people think they are then why would we not ask for more funding and ask of all our subscribers/supporters/board members/musicians/community etc.. to pay a visit to or write to the local, state and federal lawmakers who represent us.
Then this about the famed Abravanel Hall from board president Pat Richards:
Abravanel was built specifically for the orchestra “and has no other purpose,” Richards said. “I think it would be one of the biggest tragedies if this community, which has funded such a fine hall, didn’t have a fine orchestra to go with it.”
I will agree it has no other purpose for the orchestra but what about for the audience? For them it is a place of enrichment, comfort, education, entertainment, revelation, reunion, memories, new beginnings, networking, discovery, solace, excitement etc…. To make a case for the hall’s continued use as as a concert venue would be more sincere coming from the people who patronize it, highlighting the importance for them and the community, again the resonance beyond its walls. The argument needs to be about them (the audience/community) and not just about us.
Now Pat Richards is right on the money here:
The threat that Utah could lose some of its power to draw new residents and businesses isn’t imaginary, Richards said. For her, it’s personal. “I would not have stayed in this community myself if we didn’t have these opportunities,” said Richards, who moved to Utah from Chicago.
She is though but a single voice, and these are just words, we all need to build a chorus of voices just like hers but actions also to engage the whole community to rally for this cause, and make it their cause.
In a related article also from the Tribune, there are more voices speaking out including the mayor and a number of members from the musical community. The mayor is a good advocate to have, however he/she is always at the mercy of a council majority vote. The leaders of the musical community are important allies, although it is hardly a stretch that they would be supporters. What about the doctor, the fireman, the priest, the policeman, the teacher, the road worker, the bus driver, the social service organizations, john q public etc!…. These are the voices that are needed, it is the general public that needs to be energized for this cause to “resonate”…
Bottom line, it is time for us to stop waiting for something to happen, and it is time to stop being the victim. We can’t keep waiting for the recession to end, we need to actually try to help end it! This is the time that music and the arts are needed the most as people need to uplifted and inspired in these times. This is our golden opportunity to become relevant. Orchestras are special, but we need to stop talking about how important and meaningful we are and instead ACTUALLY BECOME IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL. It’s time to make a play!
Nicely put!
Just adding a voice in support of the Utah Symphony as an exceptional and very special organization. I’ve recently had the pleasure of revisiting some of Abravanel’s recordings with the Utah Symphony. Talk about “resonance” — a beautiful sound and wonderful solo playing, particularly violin and horn. Many of these recordings are now out on Vanguard Classics and at $7-8 a disc, they are a steal. I’m listening to Brahms 2 now. If you know the back story of these recordings, you get a sense of the deep commitment that both conductor and musicians had to these projects. Utah Symphony musicians have a long history of personal and professional sacrifice to make their ensemble succeed.
Mark
Yes one of the first Mahler cycles I ever heard was Utah’s. There is no doubt the musicians have a deep commitment with the donations they recently made, no argument there!