Symphony Notes
Children and the Joy of Classical Music
While many North Floridians are familiar with the Jacksonville Symphony, they may not be aware that the orchestra’s youth programs provide myriad ways to introduce children to, and educate them about, classical music.
read moreBringing a Season to Life
A symphony season takes shape through the dedication and guidance of a few key people. Together, they plan, they negotiate, they tweak. And ultimately they arrive at a performance series that’s balanced, exciting and artistically optimized.
read moreHow Do You Top a Record-setting Season?
The Jacksonville Symphony celebrated its 2015-2016 season by entertaining a record 201,000 people, registering a nine percent increase in tickets sold over the previous year and an eleven percent increase in ticket revenue.
read moreWhat I Did On My Summer Vacation
With the last Jacksonville Symphony performances over the Memorial Day weekend, the members of the orchestra look forward to their summer break. They won’t be back in Jacoby Symphony Hall until September 30 for the start of the 2016-2017 season, but they all will be busy.
read moreMovie Magic: When Film and Music Combine
As you sit in a darkened theatre and wait for the opening credits and music to set the mood, it probably doesn’t cross your mind that at the turn of the last century movies were silent. Music was provided live by a musician playing a piano or organ.
read moreEvery Child Deserves to Learn Classical Music
Imagine an educational program that gives children a music education while teaching them teamwork, leadership, how to bring their best and to be part of something bigger. That’s what Jump Start Strings, a Jacksonville version of El Sistema, the national children’s music program of Venezuela, does as part of the Communities in Schools Team-Up After School Program.
read moreA Season of Firsts
The 2015–2016 Jacksonville Symphony season will be known as the season of firsts. First up are three free community concerts. These free concerts – scheduled for the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m., Unity Plaza on October 2 at 8 p.m. and Jacoby Hall in the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts on October 3 at 8 p.m. – are the perfect entré to a season full of fun and excitement.
read moreChange is in the Air at the Jacksonville Symphony
As summer continues its march towards back to school and the Jacksonville Symphony season, there is a definite feeling of “change” in the air at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. The 2015-2016 Jacksonville Symphony season will be the first full season with Music Director Courtney Lewis at the helm.
read moreA Postcard from Europe … to the Heart of Jacksonville
Recently, I was on a multi-city tour of Europe in my role with the New York Philharmonic. Here are some of my thoughts about music as we toured. By Courtney Lewis
read moreA Season of Firsts
Recently, we announced the 2015/16 Jacksonville Symphony season. As the first season I’ve planned since taking the music directorship, I think it’s fair to say that there has been a certain degree of anticipation about what’s in store.
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