“Classical-music players, conductors and administrators from across the country descend on Seattle this week for the League of American Orchestras’ national conference,” writes Michael Upchurch in Sunday’s (6/1) Seattle Times. “The Seattle Symphony, of course, will feature prominently at the conference…. But the range of topics will go well beyond music per se. Technological developments, civic priorities, marketing innovations, community engagement, new fundraising strategies and numerous other issues are on the table for discussion. Jesse Rosen, president and CEO of the League, spoke eloquently from his New York office last week about the latest developments in the classical-music scene. Here’s an edited version of our chat. Q: What’s the general health of the symphonic scene in the U.S.? A: I think there’s a lot more optimism now than there’s been in recent years. We’re seeing recovery from the impact of the recession, and we’re seeing a high degree of experimentation and innovation, as orchestras continue to adapt.… Q: What practical steps is the League taking to encourage orchestral health across the country? A: One of the things we have been communicating pretty aggressively to our members … is the importance of being well capitalized…. Capitalization is an attempt to really dig deeper than that and look at the resources that are needed to sustain oneself…. It’s a more nuanced, sophisticated way of thinking about resources.”
Posted June 3, 2014
Photo of Seattle Symphony by Ben VanHouten
