In Tuesday’s (7/7) Charleston City Paper (South Carolina), Erica Jackson writes, “Three months ago, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra raised a white flag of surrender. Out of cash and out of ideas, the nonprofit called off their season a month before its scheduled end. While negotiations between the musicians and the board of directors have come to a standstill, volunteer community members have stepped in, leading public forums to discuss the future of symphonic music in Charleston. Hosted by the College of Charleston, the Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts, and the Coastal Community Foundation, the community forums drew hundreds of concerned citizens last month. … After a series of meetings in August to analyze the data and draft recommendations, the final report should be available to the community in September—just in time to hopefully bring the CSO back for its 75th anniversary season. … The forums referenced a study conducted by the League of American Orchestras called ‘Fearless Journeys: Innovation in Five American Orchestras.’ The study looks at orchestras in Memphis, Los Angeles, Orange County, Atlanta, and St. Paul and how they have adapted to modern demands, from rethinking traditional performance styles to expanding their educational outreach efforts.”
Posted July 8, 2010
