“Established 164 years ago, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra … will be the first in Georgia to welcome patrons to use their cellphones during performances … using the CSO’s new mobile app,” writes Mark Rice in Thursday’s (9/26) Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, GA). “CSO’s market research two years ago showed an age gap in the audience, [said] Kristen Hudson, CSO marketing director, … the majority … in the age ranges of 45-and-older and 18-25…. The app has a black-lit screen with dimmed white text, Hudson said, to minimize disturbing neighboring concertgoers. Even some of Hudson’s friends have been reluctant to attend the CSO because of other patrons who frown on cellphone use…. ‘[The app is] making them feel like they’re also welcome.’ … George Del Gobbo, entering his 33rd season as the CSO’s maestro said, ‘Anything that encourages people to get to know music better and to appreciate music better is fine with me and should be encouraged…. It’s going to be just a question of integrating this activity with the attitude of a lot of our older patrons who think it’s the devil itself they’re sitting next to, looking at a cellphone. So that’s going to be an interesting dynamic.’ ”
Posted September 27, 2019
