“Young affiliates groups in the cultural world usually find ways to satisfy members’ eyes or ears,” writes Lawrence Toppman in Thursday’s (1/2) Charlotte Observer (North Carolina). “But Pulse? Pulse literally has their backs. The next time you’re standing among the human sardines, watching a Fourth of July pops concert in Symphony Park, locate people lying on blankets in a comfy, strategically placed spot. They probably belong to Pulse, which sets aside prime real estate for its members. In just two years, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s affiliate has thrown its support behind KnightSounds concerts and obtained a series of benefits for members, ranging from free concert tickets to a protected viewing area at those Summer Pops concerts. Most major cultural outlets have groups like this one. What makes Pulse unusual is that it invites the community to concerts: The uptown Rush Hour Recitals are free to all…. [At a recent event] the phrase ‘young affiliates’ was interpreted loosely: Listeners in their 60s enjoyed the noshes and notes. … But as [co-president Whitney] Rennie explained, ‘The whole point of Pulse is to make the symphony sustainable. We need younger audiences for that to happen.’ So it’s multigenerational: She, her kids and her parents are all members.”
Posted January 3, 2014
Pictured: Andrea Mumm, the principal harp of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
