Georgia Symphony thanks essential workers with 360-degree “Georgia On My Mind”

“The symphony may not be able to hold shows in person, but the music has not stopped. Last week, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra took to YouTube for the ‘first ever’ 360-degree virtual chorus,” writes Courtney Kueppers in Wednesday’s (4/22) Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The performance of ‘Georgia On My Mind’ was a way to honor front-line workers and essential personnel ‘in Georgia, across the nation, and around the world,’ the symphony wrote on YouTube…. The performance was the brainchild of the symphony’s music director and conductor Timothy Verville…. ‘Whether we are serving our community in person or virtually, our mission to engage audiences through imaginative programming and critically acclaimed performances remains constant,’ GSO executive director Susan Stensland said in a statement.… According to the symphony, the 360-degree experience with adaptive audio is best experienced on a phone or tablet while using headphones. It’s one of a variety of performances that have been posted on YouTube since the coronavirus outbreak began. In March, 500 Cobb County band students performed ‘Shimmering Joy’ from Atlanta composer Tyler Grant together digitally. And last week, members of the Collins Hill High School Orchestra in Suwanee played ‘A Million Dreams’ in a digital performance.”