The musicians of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic will donate their services for three September benefit concerts at the Foellinger Theatre in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which the orchestra has described as “an act of generosity unprecedented” in its 66-year history. Music Director Designate Andrew Constantine will lead the concerts, entitled “Fanfare: Music for Everyone”; the orchestra will be joined at the first performance by violinist Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson, who will donate their services along with Maestro Constantine. The impetus for the concerts came from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Players’ Association, which wanted to reinforce community support for the orchestra. Funds raised from the concert will help the orchestra achieve a balanced budget during the 2009-10 season. The concerts will include an evening of “light classics” by Grieg, Wagner, and Saint-Saëns; a family matinee, featuring Saint-Saëns’s Carnival of the Animals and music from Pirates of the Caribbean; and a “Stage & Screen” concert—with the Blue River Big Band and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Chorus—featuring music from Saving Private Ryan, Star Wars, West Side Story, and Carousel.
Posted August 11, 2009
Photo of Andrew Constantine courtesy of the conductor
