The Chicago Sinfonietta, Music Director Mei-Ann Chen, and Regina Carter in performance. Photo: Chris Ocken
“With the elimination of barriers that can keep people from attending classical music performances among Chicago Sinfonietta’s goals, the orchestra created a new pay-what-you-can program,” writes Kathy Cichon in Monday’s (9/13) Naperville Sun (Illinois). “ ‘I often asked people why have you not been to an orchestra concert. Some of those barriers are often geographical…. But oftentimes, of course, it is a financial barrier,’ CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson said…. In addition to regular ticket prices, pay-what-you-can tickets will be offered a week or two before the concert … for suggested prices of $5 and $10…. If the audience member is unable to pay one of those amounts, they can contact a patron service manager…. The new policy launches with the start of Chicago Sinfonietta’s 2021-22 season … Sept. 18…. For the first time the Sinfonietta will be able to issue digital tickets…. So far the feedback for the program has been positive. So much so, when news of the affordable ticket option received national attention, an anonymous donor stepped forward to cover the first year of the program…. ‘Of course we only have so many seats so the only limit is the size of the hall itself,’ Johnson said.”
