Klarinet Archive - Posting 001510.txt from 1998/04

From: merlinw@-----.ca
Subj: Re: [klarinet] Attracting Wind Ensemble Audiences
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 06:10:45 -0400

On 04/26/98 22:41:08 you wrote:

>Trust me, it was one heck of a great concert! However, once again, even with
>a wonderful program, outstanding musicians, and fine conducting leadership,
>the members of the Claremont Symphonic Winds outnumbered the audience!! All
>of us in the Claremont Symphonic Winds (at least me, the contrabass clarinet
>player, would like to know if this is a LALA Land (Claremont is about 35 miles
>due east of Los Angeles) phenomenon, or is there a proven way to attract an
>audience to a really outstanding concert of wind music?

I attended a band concert last night - an odd thing for me, since I generally play, and don't go to concerts much. The concert was fairly well attended. The audience numbered about 225 to the band's 45 members. Not stellar, but better than many band concerts. However, given that this concert had been given media coverage by two major Toronto TV stations, due to the band featuring an unsung heroine of Canadian music, I was a bit disappointed by the turnout. Five million people live in the broadcast area, yet only 225 could make it out.

BTW, I went because the band was playing a medley I wrote of the songs written by the honoree - it definitely makes the long hours spent in front of a blank page seem more worthwhile when the music is finally played before an attentive and appreciative audience.

Merlin Williams
merlinw@-----.ca
http://www.netcom.ca/~merlinw
(A member of the Sax Ring!)

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