ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Attracting Starry Guest Artists

In the June issue of Columbus Monthly, Peter Tonguette writes, “On April 11, Sutton Foster—whose Broadway credits include Tony Award-winning turns in revivals of ‘Anything Goes’ and ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’—worked her way through the Great American Songbook and left the packed house captivated and charmed.” Foster performed with “ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, which provided ample orchestral support to the singer all evening long. The unique collaboration was part of ProMusica’s annual soiree concert, which functions as a fundraiser for the group. ‘It was a big success, in all of the ways that one would hope,’ says ProMusica CEO Janet Chen…. In recent years, the orchestra has increasingly turned to major stars for its soiree concerts, including ‘Hamilton’ actor-singer Leslie Odom Jr. and singer-musician-composer Jon Batiste … ProMusica’s pursuit of such artists began in 2018, when Odom Jr. first performed with the orchestra…. Chen says, ‘It was a huge risk for us financially and even programmatically.’ She notes the high fees commanded by such performers … But the concerts have paid off for ProMusica—and  have led to longstanding relationships with many of the A-listers who relished their experience with the orchestra…. Odom and Batiste later performed in non-soiree concerts with ProMusica, and Chen’s relationships with their managers and agents have led to booking other stars.”