Sat. July 5 – Picnic Pops (Wadsworth)

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Sun. July 6 – Great American Songbook (Akron)

Sunday
July 6, 2008 – 7:30 p.m. Read more

Symphony Opens Picnic Pops Series Despite Soggy Conditions At Hardesty

Akron—The Akron Symphony began its annual free, summer Picnic Pops series on Monday with a performance at Hardesty Park in Akron. Despite the gloom and the occasional rain drops, the orchestra managed to get in sixty minutes of music for the dedicated crowd who shielded themselves from the elements with umbrellas and soggy blankets.
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To Educate and Engage Is To What, Exactly?

So…Here I go…

This is my first official professional blog. I’ve written plenty of personal blogs, updating my friends and family on the daily ramblings of my life. Those are quite easy to write, as I just basically give a detailed account of the random things that I encounter, serving no purpose other than to tell everyone how I’m doing. However, as the new Director of Education and Community Engagement here at the Akron Symphony, I feel this blog should do just that…educate and engage. Though, the question still lingers, what does that mean. I get this question often when I rattle off my official, important-sounding title. So I think the best way to begin to educate and engage you is to tell you what I think it means.

I grew up in a very small Texas town called Crosby. Crosby is about 45 minutes outside of Houston, a city full of arts and culture. Unfortunately, that thriving cultural life did not make it down to my tiny town, so I rarely was exposed to great art work or music early on. My parents appreciate the arts, but it really is not their “thing”. I decided in sixth grade that I wanted to play flute (mostly to get out of gym of course…why else would I want to be a band nerd?). This single decision changed the course of my life. Slowly I was exposed to more and more classical music, and I discovered a whole new world that existed beyond the grass farms and cow pastures of Crosby Texas. I decided to make music my career, and was shocked with how far behind I was when I entered my freshman year of college. My classmates discussed the symphonies of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, and all I could do was smile and nod. I was eager to learn, and I felt cheated that my high school band program and general community had let me down in such a way. It was in that time I became very passionate about reaching out to people like me who are missing out on the wonders classical music can bring to a life.

This, of course, spills over into what I do right now. I believe it is my job to get you, our loyal symphony patrons, and, yes, even the greater public of Akron and the communities beyond, to see this wonder. To feel the beautiful expression exuded by our wonderful musicians as they perform not only in E J Thomas, but also around our community. Our concise organizational mission statement is this: Enhancing the quality of life for the greater Akron community through excellence in music performance and education. I intend to do just that by bringing our music and musicians into local schools, daycares, retirement homes, hospitals and libraries, and really showing the people of Akron the amazing effects classical music can have on a community and its members.

I like to think that everyone can relate to any type of music when they are open to it…music speaks to one’s soul, whether it may be classical, rock, country, rap, folk, etc. The genres are all interrelated, just as we as a community are all interrelated. This is what I do…use the orchestra and classical music as a foundation to further our community, whether it is by telling a group of fourth graders how the different instruments work together to make a final product come to life or by teaching a group of young professionals how to play Mary Had a Little Lamb on the recorder. These simple things can mean the difference in someone’s life.

And that, my dear blog readers, is what I do and why I love my job.

Until next time,
Meredith

Star Wars: Music & Myth

Sunday
October 26, 2008 – 3 p.m.
E.J. Thomas Hall, The University of Akron

Odyssey Series
Star Wars: Music & Myth
Christopher James Lees, conductor

This intergalactic musical voyage will travel at light speed spanning all six episodes of the Epic Saga while illuminating the diverse mythology behind the cinematic characters, and provide a look at how these monumental films have inspired fans for three generations. Connecting this vast universe is the music of Academy Award-winning composer John Williams and an appearance by none other than Darth Vader himself!

Costume Contest and pre-concert activities begin at 2 p.m.

Single Tickets on sale August 18–buy NOW and save 50%

Concert Sponsor:

Pre Concert Activities Sponsor:

The Welty Family Foundation

Hotel accomodations for guest artists courtesy of: