“Orchestral music doesn’t have to be classical, and symphony concerts don’t have to be on stage in an auditorium,” writes Carrie Wise in Tuesday’s (1/15) Ideastream.org (Cleveland, OH). “ ‘What we’ve learned really is that we’ve got to be different,’ said Michelle Mullaly, executive director of the Canton Symphony Orchestra…. Once a month, a few symphony musicians pair with local bands to play their music, whatever the genre. ‘Whenever they hear their music for the first time with other instruments added, there’s just this amazing look of joy on their face,’ Mullaly said. The [‘Divergent Sounds’] series launched last May with a collaboration with hip-hop artist A-Minus. Other concerts have featured country, folk and Latin funk. The January installment spotlights the rock group Ohio Weather Band, of Alliance, with symphony musicians… Concerts are set up to be small, intimate gatherings [at Canton’s Zimmerman Symphony Center]. The concerts are making money, Mullaly said. As an outgrowth of this series, the plan is to offer larger concerts with the entire orchestra performing with Akron singer-songwriter Angie Haze and other bands featured through ‘Divergent Sounds.’ The Canton Symphony has performed in similar arrangements with local bands, including the Kent-based group the Speedbumps.”
Posted January 15, 2019
