“Now in its fourth year, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s ‘101’ series has sought to drum up excitement for—and a better understanding of—the group’s upcoming performances by offering an educational, behind-the-scenes look at the music involved,” writes Dugan Arnett in Saturday’s (11/21) Boston Globe. “ ‘The idea is to be looking ahead and, in a sense, build their skills for listening,’ says Marc Mandel, BSO director of program publications.… For the orchestra, the series was a natural step. With research indicating that would-be concertgoers, while open-minded, felt intimidated by what they considered their lack of knowledge surrounding the symphony, the BSO realized there was room to educate. The ‘101’ series, then, emerged as a way to minimize one barrier that might keep people from attending concerts. Held periodically throughout the BSO season, the sessions are free and open to the public.… ‘It’s our responsibility to make sure people have all the information that they should have in order to want to come,’ says Kim Noltemy, chief marketing and communications officer for the BSO. ‘It’s not just about running really good-looking ads or sending a great e-mail, it’s also about doing that more substantive thing.’ ”
Posted November 23, 2015
