Full Issue – Symphony: Winter 2021, Next Steps
Read the whole issue online via Issuu.
Prelude and Table of Contents: Winter 2021
To paraphrase the Grateful Dead, what a long, strange year it’s been. Twelve months ago, nobody outside the scientific community had heard of novel coronaviruses, and now the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 400,000. Concert halls shut down in compliance with health regulations.
Coda: Change Agent
With the Chineke! Orchestra, Chi-chi Nwanoku is creating opportunities for classical musicians of color in the U.K. and Europe, with a year-round schedule of concerts, plus an orchestra of young musicians mentored by the professional musicians. Here, she speaks about the orchestra and her long-term goal: to create a future generation in which Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse classical musicians are no longer a rarity but are part of the norm.
Annual Fund: Winter 2021
With the support of our valued donors, the League continues to have a positive impact on the future of orchestras in America by helping to develop the next generation of leaders, generating and disseminating critical knowledge and information, and advocating for the unique role of the orchestral experience in American life before an ever-widening group of stakeholders.
Guide to Emerging Artists: Winter 2021
Our annual listing of emerging composers, conductors, ensembles, and soloists is inspired by the breadth and sheer volume of young classical talent.
Podium Launches
The pandemic has put significant speed bumps into launching a new music director, but orchestras are rising to the challenge. Despite constantly changing health protocols and travel restrictions, orchestras—and their incoming music directors—are staying connected by adopting new technology, experimenting with repertoire, and finding ways to make music while keeping everyone safe.
Chamber Crescendo
Symphonic blockbusters are being swapped out for chamber-sized works as orchestras adapt to pandemic health guidelines. Fresh discoveries abound—for musicians, orchestras, and audiences.
New Directions
Emerging artists—the young musicians who burst onto the orchestra scene every year—face unprecedented challenges as they start careers at a time when most in-person performances are off the table. Simultaneously, the country’s reckoning with racism is resonating with these young musicians, who are re-envisioning their musical careers and their role as artists and activists.
Sounds from a Distance
Thrilling sound is one of the defining characteristics of orchestra concerts. But the pandemic has reordered priorities: outdoor performances and safety protocols like masks and distancing require new approaches to acoustics.
What’s Next for Orchestras?
2020 was a year like no other: the pandemic, America’s long-overdue reckoning with race, financial downturns, starkly divided politics. Facing COVID-19 shutdowns and stringent health regulations, orchestras found innovative ways to keep the music playing—even while reexamining their roles in a changing society.