The Nashville Symphony

Artistic Programming : The 2021/22 season was the Nashville Symphony's 75th anniversary, and the Orchestra's first "full" "post" pandemic season. Like many other performing arts organizations worldwide, the organization experienced a gradual comeback trend as tentative audiences navigated their comfort level in attending public events. The 79 musicians and many of the 49 staff members who had been furloughed due to COVID-19 returned to the work force in July and August of 2021, eager to return to normal operations at Schermerhorn Symphony Center and in the community. Due to ongoing health safety concerns, programming in September 2021 began with a plan that allowed for social distancing both onstage and in the concert hall. Repertoire included works for smaller ensembles that are rarely played as part of traditional orchestra concerts, including chamber music for brass, wind, and string ensembles (Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, Joan Tower's Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, and Dvorak's Serenade for Winds), early chamber orchestra works that do not call for full forces (such as Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony) and other hidden gems. As safety restrictions gradually lifted, the Orchestra was able to program larger works: in January, 2022 the full Orchestra was reunited onstage for performances of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 24 and Dvoak's Eighth Symphony. The Orchestra continued its commitment to commissioning, performing, and recording the work of contemporary American composers, including Brad Warnaar and Nashville's own C.F. Kip Winger. The 14-program Classical Series the season culminated with a performance of Beethoven's triumphant Ninth Symphony featuring the Nashville Symphony Chorus along with three contemporary works: a newly commissioned work by Nashville Symphony violist Christopher Farrell, Brio by Augusta Read Thomas, and Pulse by Nashville Symphony Composer Lab fellow Brian Raphael Nabors. The 2021/22 Pops season includedappearances byLeslie Odom, Jr.,Stewart Copeland of The Policeand Ben Folds with Principal Pops Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yanez. The Jazz SerieswelcomedWynton Marsalis'Jazz at Lincoln CenterOrchestra, plus a first-ever Schermerhorn appearance by Pat Metheny. Live-to-film screenings with the Symphony included The Muppet Christmas Carol,Toy Story, Back to the Future, andStar Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Other season highlights included a special performance of Copland's Billy the Kid and Stravinsky's The Firebird with the Nashville Ballet; Latin Fire led by Lopez-Yanez and featuring trumpeter Jose Sibaja and soprano Monica Abrego; a one-night appearance by BalletFolklorico de Mexico; Kool the Gang in their first Nashville appearance in a decade; and the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE Orchestra World Tour.

Education Community Engagement Programs: The Nashville Symphony proudly serves thousands of children and families each year from the 41-county Middle Tennessee region, both at Schermerhorn Symphony Center and in local schools and community gathering spaces across the region. The Symphony works to offer integrated support across a number of programs for children with autism and/or other sensory sensitivities, including flexible and accessible seating, closed captioning, quiet spaces, trained staff and additional resources. Education and community programming highlights include: Young People's Concerts are live orchestra performances at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, with age-appropriate programming and accompanying curriculum and lesson plans for teachers tied to statewide learning outcomes. Coming out of the pandemic in the 2021/22 season, these concerts reached more than 5,400 students over 5 concerts (typically these numbers would be more than doubled. Program highlights included "Peter the Wolf" in partnership with Wishing Chair Puppet Company; "Your Composition, Your Story" featuring an original student melody played by the Nashville Symphony; and, "Words Music" highlighting the connection between music and poetry. Teachers received downloadable curriculum with lesson plans and music. The Accelerando Program prepares gifted young students of diverse ethnic backgrounds to pursue music at the collegiate level and beyond. Twenty-two students participated in the 2021/22 season. The senior class of participants went on to pursue music degrees at the University of Louisville, Rice University, Ithaca College, and MTSU and were awarded a total of $481,000 in scholarships. Ensembles in the Schools serve local schools with visits from Nashville Symphony ensembles, along with lesson plans and other resources to enrich classroom learning. In a pandemic recovery mode, this program reached 582 students and 266 adults over 16 performances (a tenth of its usual reach). Masterclasses, Sectionals and Lessons provide resources, instruction and performance coaching for small groups of students throughout Middle Tennessee. 593 students were engaged over 55 sessions (again, a fraction of pre-pandemic numbers). Open Dress Rehearsals offer a look at what goes on behind the scenes at ourClassical Series concerts before the first public performance. 450 students and 64 adults witnessed rehearsals with and the Nashville Symphony and guest artists others at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. In November, two former Accelerando students performed movements from concertos as part of a Classical Series concert, and dress rehearsal attendees had the opportunity to watch the creative process unfold with peers onstage. Is It a Fiddle or a Violin?, offered in collaboration with the Country Music Hall of Fame, invited 373 students and 117 adults over 14 sessions to explore the commonalities and the differences between country and classical music. The Nashville Symphony's Community Concerts series brings the orchestra's music to neighborhoods across the region during the summer months, reaching 6,000+ community members via free outdoor concerts. String Residency Program: In its inaugural year, the Nashville Symphony's String Residency Program partnered with elementary, middle, and high school students in five schools to supplement and expand string instruction and help grow string-instrument education in Metro Nashville Public Schools. Small groups of symphony musicians chose a partner school and built relationships with students throughout the school year, mentoring them and sitting side-by-side in rehearsals and concerts. 838 students and 12 Nashville Symphony musicians participated in the pilot program. Chamber Music: The Nashville Symphony offered six musician-curated, free chamber music performances at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in 2021/22. The total audience for these concerts was 592 people (in a typical year we reach around 2,000 audience members).