Musicians of the Savannah Philharmonic and Music Director Keitaro Harada perform at a “Phil the Neighborhood” event.
In Wednesday’s (6/18) Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Adam Van Brimmer, Joe Kovac, Fletcher Page, and Mike Esterl write, “The Savannah Philharmonic says it is enjoying unprecedented growth with season ticket sales for the series that starts in September maxing out in just eight weeks—13 weeks faster than two seasons ago. The orchestra expects to sell out the remaining tickets, or about 250 per show, in advance of the concert dates. The success comes in spite of shifting entertainment options and musical tastes that would seemingly undercut interest in traditional symphony orchestras. Other orchestras across Georgia, in markets big and small, also say they are enjoying audience growth and better finances after concerts screeched to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are experimenting more than before. While long-dead composers like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky remain staples, there’s also a push toward female and contemporary composers, even K-pop, to draw new and younger audiences. They’re also expanding community outreach, including free concerts in parks. There are signs of [an upturn] nationally in selling subscriptions … There are more than 15 classical orchestras crisscrossing the state—from Valdosta to Columbus to Dahlonega. Most have budgets in the hundreds of thousand of dollars, a far cry from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s $43 million annual wallet but enough to stage several performances a year.” The article reports on orchestras of various sizes throughout Georgia.
