October is here, and with it comes cool mornings, warm sunny afternoons, and the opening of our Baroque & Beyond series with Shift, Change, Turn on October 16, 17, and 18. My name is Andrew Mellanby, Artistic Operations Manager at the KW Symphony. My main role is to produce our concerts - ensuring that everything is ready to roll before the orchestra begins rehearsals.
We begin planning well over a year before the orchestra plays a single note: confirming guest artists and conductors, scheduling rehearsals, arranging technical elements, renting equipment, and working with our venues. But sometimes the biggest challenges show up at the last minute.
Several years ago, I produced a concert with an acrobatic troupe from China, who flew on ribbons above the stage, the audience, and the orchestra. At the dress rehearsal, one act came dangerously close to the musicians. With only hours to go, we moved the entire 60+ person orchestra, re-rigged equipment, and re-focused the lighting. This meant calling in stage crew, riggers, and lighting technicians on very short notice at overtime rates.
That evening it felt wonderful to see the acrobats soaring gracefully and safely above the audience while the orchestra performed below. Nobody in that audience ever knew about the scramble that afternoon, and honestly, that's the goal. But it doesn't come for free.
That's where you come in. Ticket sales alone don't cover the full cost of bringing live orchestral music to our community. Your gift helps us keep that flexibility: the crew, the equipment, and the time to get it right when something unexpected happens.
If you're able, please consider making a donation today at our website. Every contribution, of any size, helps keep the music going. Thank you for being part of the KW Symphony family. I hope to see you at Shift, Change, Turn this month.
With gratitude,
Andrew Mellanby
Artistic Operations Manager, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
No comments:
Post a Comment