In a normal year, we’d be in the thick of it by now with a full schedule of orchestra concerts, with pops shows, movie concerts, and classical programs as our weekly routine. We would have caught up with each other’s lives after the summer break, there would be jokes about politics and conductors, and chatter about ad hoc chamber music making.

Underlining it all would be a sense of pride and joy at sharing the stage with our talented friends, of being a part of a utopian endeavor, and actually believing that music can change lives, because we’ve seen it happen many times. As orchestra players, we get to see the beaming faces during a Star Wars movie concert, the ecstatic dancing in the aisles by fans of Mexican superstar songstresses, the tearful thank yous after performances of the Verdi Requiem.

Instead, we confront the real possibility that our orchestral careers might be dramatically diminished, if not ended, by this pandemic. Excited chatter about playing that cool piece by Martinu has been replaced by seminars on navigating the unemployment system, and playing out worst-case scenarios on the likelihood that this situation may not change for a long time.

And yet, even in the darkest moments, there are signs of artistic life emerging. Local arts organizations are figuring out what performing life will look like in the COVID era. Frankly, the smaller the better in terms of an organization’s ability to pivot to what the circumstances will allow.

Our garden concerts have been a perfect example of that, reclaiming the literal definition of “chamber” music as an intimate experience on a garden scale, and our weekly live stream concerts have given us a safe way to keep making music and connecting, albeit virtually, with colleagues and friends.

This Friday will be our twenty-first live streamed concert since we started this series, an amazing feat when you think about it. We’ve presented concerts with artists from Canada, USA, Malaysia, England, and Slovakia, as well as many featuring local musicians. The programs have featured old music, new music, jazz music, and next week Sondheim with piccolo player extraordinaire Zach Galatis!

Your support is crucial to keeping this going. Our mission is to provide a weekly respite from the tensions of the world, a place to recharge spiritually through music, and a chance to stay connected during a time when all that is being tested.

Patreon is the membership platform we’ve partnered with to keep the music happening each week, and I hope you’ll consider becoming a patron! Please visit our Patreon page for more details on why this is a great way to show your support for our creative work.

Thank you so much, everyone.

Ron Blessinger
Executive Director, 45^th Parallel Universe