Photo Credit: Erin Velasco
The decision to rebrand Symphoria as The Syracuse Orchestra marks a significant milestone in our ensemble’s 11-year journey. Symphoria established itself as a cooperative orchestra following the dissolution of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra in 2011. The determination of the original members who formed the cooperative made possible both the importance of integrating music into the cultural fabric of Syracuse and the fair treatment of its musicians.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we (Symphoria) had just appointed a new executive director who collaborated tirelessly with the musicians to continue to provide the Syracuse community with the healing power of music. Once the state/local governments allowed gatherings large enough for us to perform, we played in clusters, augmented by innovative “shields” our crew and staff created out of marine canvas in order to help mitigate any spread of the virus. This allowed us to perform our entire 2021–2022 season virtually and even to extend our reach beyond Syracuse. Orchestra members called every ticket holder personally to thank them for their patronage. The connection to the community that evolved out of the COVID experience became one of the motivating factors to change our name. We now want to acknowledge the Syracuse community directly, and we also want people to know who and where we are!
As a co-op, our orchestra navigates a unique relationship with our administration. Our Musicians’ Committee meets weekly and works closely with the administration in every facet of the organization. We have five musicians on the Board of Directors with a representative on every committee. Musicians work in Development, Operations, Library, and Personnel departments. All major decisions made by the administration are shared with the Musicians’ Committee, and anything that affects the musician, or targets a gray area in our CBA or Bylaws is discussed and approved through the Musicians’ Committee. Having players on both sides of the fence keeps communications open and flowing. This was a goal of our founding members and has provided a great benefit to the organization in practice.
The Syracuse Orchestra’s season includes eight Masterworks concerts, five Pops concerts, four Casual concerts with a smaller chamber orchestra, a Sparks series (a themed series with an informal flair), and a children’s series.
We also are building a virtual/interactive chamber music program for elementary school children and a healthcare community service program called Healing Harmonies. Our administration in collaboration with the Musicians’ Committee is working to expand Healing Harmonies into the workplace as well as offering “Yoga with The Syracuse Orchestra”. Each of these represents a bold and innovative step for the orchestra, showcasing its commitment to exploring new avenues of revenue and engagement with the community.
This spring, The Syracuse Orchestra is exploring a residency at Destiny USA mall in an innovative, versatile performance space. Destiny USA is the fifth largest mall in the US and sees upwards of 16 million visitors a year. This promises to be a dynamic and inclusive cultural experience for us and the community. By hosting a variety of concerts celebrating diversity, we expect to demonstrate our commitment to engaging audiences of all backgrounds and interests. The residency will also include chamber music performances,contemplation/meditation hours with live music, and unique opportunities to experience the orchestra in more intimate settings and explore the therapeutic power of music. There will also be a speaker series called “Coffee with The Syracuse Orchestra,” providing a platform for engaging discussions and deeper connections between the orchestra and the community it serves.
Rebranding to The Syracuse Orchestra reflects a renewed focus on community engagement and underscores the orchestra’s commitment to serving as a vital cultural institution in Syracuse. Through our diverse programming and collaborative initiatives, we, The Syracuse Orchestra, are poised to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the cultural landscape of the region.
