"One of the biggest challenges of the future is for me the increasingly complicated search for ways of reaching out and connecting to those who have been cut off from the world of classical music."
– Pamela Rosenberg, Managing Director, Berlin Philharmonic
Lots of orchestras pay lip service to what is commonly referred to as "outreach," sending musicians out to schools and community centers as part of their mission as a community-based organization (which is how they get their tax-exempt non-profit status.) Many of these attempts are half-hearted, if not inept.
Then there is the London Symphony Orchestra, generally acknowleged to be the world-leader in its innovative educational and community programs under the LSO Discovery umbrella. (As one indication of the LSO’s succeess, Simon Rattle hired away the directors of LSO Discovery to join him in Berlin and start the Future@BPhil program, now in its sixth year.) From school visits, to working with diabled adults and children, to the much-imitated Discovery Concerts at London’s St. Luke’s Church, the LSO has set the gold standard.
A friendly reader gently reminded me today that the LSO – which will be in town October 17 – 21 to perform three concerts at Avery Fisher Hall as part of the Great Performers series – is once again partnering with local station WNYC to hold the second annual LSO on Call Contest, fashioned after a similar program the orchestra regularly offers in London. Here’s how it works: pairs of LSO musicians will visit homebound music lovers throughout NYC and perform a live 45 minute concert in their home, hospice or nursing home. All you need to do is write, in 250 words or less, why you think your homebound music-loving friend or family member deserves an LSO visit, and the best six entries will be chosen to receive a visit on Oct 16, 17 or 18.
Entries will be accepted no later than Monday October 8. Nominators must be present at the time visit; additional rules can be found here.
Even if you don’t win a personal visit, anyone who can’t make it to AFH in person that week can still catch the LSO by tuning in to WNYC (93.9FM) for a live broadcast of the all-Mozart concert on Wednesday, October 17th, beginning at 8pm.