Welcome to The Unstuffy Symphony

OK, here's the deal: I want to make my volunteer community orchestra as “unstuffy” as possible. Technically, the orchestra is not mine, at least not yet. I am one of three finalists to become conductor of a community orchestra in a suburb of one of the three major cities in Texas. But those details are for later.

   I can tell you the truth because I'm hiding behind a layer of anonymity. After the audition process, if I get the honor of being appointed the new conductor, I will put my name on this and continue. If not, I may scuttle it but will more likely keep it anonymous as I try to make changes after somehow getting on the Board of Directors and start pushing for change from the inside.

   What do I mean by an "unstuffy" symphony orchestra? Classical music of all kinds gets accused of being stuffy, pretentious, and elitist. Often those criticisms are warranted, at least about practitioners if not the music itself. At the community level, the 1,400 to 1,700 local orchestras filled with volunteers (or at least people not making enough money to matter) players and management, are your friends and neighbors. There's no ivory tower in most suburbs, so why do groups still have that stuffy smell?

   Because too few people attend and appreciate their local volunteer or even professional orchestra, I want to change this situation. Here are the four ways I want to pursue first.

1. Make the symphony more inviting.

   Sometimes this just means better advertising and outreach, sometimes it means choosing music more in tune with the audience, sometimes just a better concert presentation. People need to know they're not only allowed but encouraged to come.

2. Make the symphony more inclusive.

   Symphony orchestras, along with opera companies and art museums, have historically been seen as a white, Eastern European pastime. Our community demographics have shifted considerably, yet we haven't done nearly enough to invite a new audience.

3. Make the symphony less rigid.

   Concerts have a lot of protocol to follow – what to wear, when to sit, when to applaud, and keep a lid on enthusiasm. Those protocols need to be updated.

4. Make the symphony less "musty."

   You know that smell when a room has been closed too long? In many cases, that room is a concert hall. Fresh air will do everyone good.

   These ideas will be expanded upon here, along with other issues. For instance, is a symphony art or entertainment? Are those two mutually exclusive? To energize attendance, do we change the presentation or what's presented? Those are all topics for future entries and examination.