We have a symphony?
Photo by Larisa Birta on Unsplash
Hello! My name is… well, that doesn’t really matter, does it? Suffice it to say, I am A Regular Person who lives here in the Tri-Cities, just like you. I hike Badger Mountain, stroll along the Columbia River, visit the REACH museum, root for the Dust Devils and Americans, and love a good taco truck! Recently, as I was going about one of my regular days, there was a murmur in the wind. A disturbance in the force. Whispers that the Mid-Columbia Symphony is struggling.
Neighbors, I had the same thought that you just did:
We have a symphony?
I decided to investigate, so off to the wise and hallowed Google I went! Here’s what I learned.
Picture it: 1945. A secret project. A windy desert. And… not much else. Especially when your very presence is hidden from the small, neighboring farm towns. No YouTube. No Spotify. Not even an iPod.
I’m talking about the Manhattan Project, people.
Louis Armstrong said, “Music is life itself.” And Dr. Ian Malcom tells us that “Life finds a way.” So, it stands to follow that music will always find a way. And find a way it did, with 80 Hanford workers and their spouses forming the Choral Society and Concert Orchestra to bring classical music to their little corner of history.
And that group has endured. Through Elvis, the Beatles, the Bee Gees, Madonna, Nirvana, and Taylor Swift, the Mid-Columbia Symphony has been a cornerstone of our community,
Yes, Tri-Cities, we have a symphony!
But remember those murmurs and whispers of symphonic struggles I mentioned earlier? I began to wonder what these struggles are, and how I, a Regular Person, might help.
I needed more information, so I went right to the source and sat down with Interim-Music Director and Conductor Adrienne Fletcher to set the music straight. The following is a paraphrased version of our discussion over Mexican food. (I told you, I love a good taco truck!)
Regular Person: So, little birds are saying the Mid-Columbia Symphony is struggling. Is that true? What happened?
Adrienne Fletcher: Unfortunately, yes. We are at a pivotal junction in our organization. We have lost a few large donors and sponsors over the past few seasons, and are starting to feel the financial pinch.
RP: Ah, you got ‘Sesame Street’ed’ too, huh?
AF: Yes, I guess you could say that, in a way.
RP: Bummer. But does a symphony really need a lot of money? Where does it go?
AF: The Mid-Columbia Symphony is a nonprofit organization, so every dollar goes back into the program itself. This includes items such as hiring professional musicians, performing diverse music, presenting unique concert styles, and our educational programs. And don’t forget that we do not have a home venue, so we have to rent space for every rehearsal and concert. For us, a full five concert season can cost around $195,000.
RP: I guess that makes sense. So, what are you gonna do?
AF: We are taking an aggressively detailed approach to our expenses for this season, ensuring that every dollar is spent wisely. For example, we have temporarily reduced our season from five concerts to three (but what an exciting three they will be!). We are also placing a renewed priority on fostering relationships with our community, and presenting concerts that appeal to our friends and neighbors. There are major adjustments that need to be made to stay current with the evolution of fundraising for nonprofits, but we are ready and excited to take on this challenge.
RP: Cool. But isn’t classical music super boring? It's just Old, Dead White Guys music, right?
AF: Haha! You could say that many orchestras have a bad habit of not straying from what is familiar to them, and we are not exempt from that accusation. There is beauty in the familiarity that many find in western classical music. However, classical music is alive and well, my friend! It is present in every movie, TV show, jingle, video game… it is all around us! It is still very much a part of our culture, just maybe not in ways we traditionally recognize. I challenge any skeptic to attend a Mid-Columbia Symphony concert this season; I bet you’ll hear something you know and something you enjoy.
RP: Okaaay... I don’t see why I, a Regular Person, should care, though…
AF: Well, the science books will tell you that classical music stimulates your brain in numerous cool ways. More than that, experiencing live art with others creates something special that we don’t often get in our society from screens. It creates an emotional bond, grounds us, connects us, and creates lasting memories. There is a reason music has moved people since the dawn of time. It is a part of our collective history that connects us to those who have come before us, and those who will come after.
RP: Really? Are the arts really that important to a community?
AF: Of course! A night at the symphony is a night out. It’s a family night, with dinner before at a local restaurant. It’s a date night, with a new outfit you bought at the boutique in The Parkway. It’s lady’s or guy’s night, with drinks at one of the Uptown’s watering holes afterwards. It is community. The art we consume feeds us and our economy.
RP: That sounds expensive.
AF: Concert tickets start at $20, which is comparable to going to a movie. And there are no bad seats!
RP: Okay, I’m on board! How can the community support the Mid-Columbia Symphony?
AF: Come to a concert! (We bet you’ll like it!) Bring a friend to a concert! (We bet they’ll like it, too!) Or attend one of our other events, like the Musical Chairs event that happened in September. Consider an individual donation, business sponsorship, or purchasing ad space in our programs. And don’t forget, there are non-monetary ways to help, too. There are many different areas you can volunteer. And following, sharing, and engaging with us on social media is an easy way to make a big impact!
RP: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
AF: The Mid-Columbia Symphony is as old as our community, and it would be sad to lose this treasure. We are determined to endure! Every note we play this season will carry the energy of renewal and belief that great music can inspire, heal, and unite. We are dedicated to connecting with our community, and adapting to the current arts world. Together, with your help, we can ensure the Mid-Columbia Symphony delights for generations to come.
The Mid-Columbia Symphony is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Visit MidColumbiaSymphony.org for more information, to buy tickets, or to donate!