“As the Oklahoma City Philharmonic prepares to launch its 2014-15 season of concerts, it seems like a logical time to examine the orchestra’s first quarter century,” writes Rick Rogers in Saturday’s (8/16) Oklahoman (Oklahoma City). “Between 1989 and 2014, the orchestra’s budget grew from $1.2 million to $5.3 million. The Philharmonic also has built a loyal subscriber base of nearly 5,000. More importantly, the quality of the playing has steadily improved…. Said music director Joel Levine, ‘The orchestra has developed a mature sound and established an approach to music making that is sophisticated and polished.’ … High points during the orchestra’s first 25 years include the establishment of a family series … and the first downtown summer concerts (‘Red, White & Boom!’) since World War II…. ‘In the last few years, audience response has been more robust than it was in the early years,’ said Eddie Walker, the orchestra’s executive director. ‘There’s a joy, a spirit in the lobby that patrons comment on.’ The future of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic [may include] river concerts that could be a component of the ‘Core to Shore’ park initiative, and being on the lookout for new ideas to enhance the concert experience…. ‘We want to see the orchestra strive to continue fulfilling its mission statement: To bring inspiration and joy for the community through orchestral music,’ said Levine.”
Posted August 19, 2014
