Junichi Hirokami and the CSO: Empowering the Audience!

It was not a stunt on January 19 when 22 musicians didn’t return to their seats until intermission was nearly over.   It was a demonstration of what the orchestra might look like if the Columbus Symphony Orchestra board proposals for deep cuts are adopted.   It was as if they were saying to the audience:

Is this the orchestra you want to see? You decide.

It was an extraordinary move, and now the audience is now going to be a part of the decision, as they should be!…………….

I left a comment regarding this empowerment of the audience on Drew’s post Junichi Hirokami: Leading from the Front and thought I would elaborate.  What usually seems to happen each time when an orchestra makes an appeal to the public, is the onset of a war of words between the negotiating parties.  The audience is left on the side lines like spectators at a prize fight.  What’s telling in this case, is that there were no words spoken to the audience, only a physical demonstration and then a wonderful performance (according to this review).  Immediately following their performance and led by Junichi, there was deep bow of appreciation and solidarity, which must have been a moving sight to behold.

By this they were demonstrating to the audience just how much they were valued.  They were not complaining about the lack of support, but instead fully appreciating the support in front of them at that moment, and reaching out for it.  Judging by the outcry, it was viewed as a sincere gesture.  The audience are not merely spectators in the fight for THEIR orchestra in Columbus, they’re now in the fight!

More than standing up for the musicians, Junichi is doing something more profound, he is standing with them, and now with the audience too, as equal partners.  We think of the word concert as a musical performance, however Wordnet has these two definitions:

• contrive (a plan) by mutual agreement
• settle by agreement; “concert one’s differences”

Junichi and the musicians by their gestures are now in concert with those who truly have the power in Columbus, the audience.  Together they’re a formidable team to say the least!