As the 15th largest city in the US, Columbus is about to become a statistic: the only major US city without a comparably major orchestra.
Despite rumors to the contrary, the life of orchestras around the country is very much alive.
Orchestras bring people downtown. They stimulate the downtown economy by helping support area businesses such as restaurants and shops.
We all know that City Center has been dying for years. That's part of the problem and could become part of the solution. Anyone who examines the history of other orchestras will find a pattern. An orchestra suffering from general neglect will reflect in the city's vitality, as we are seeing with Columbus. On the other hand, an orchestra which is proudly supported by ALL its citizens, will stimulate the whole city in remarkable ways. I refer to the habit of MAJOR corporations seeking a viable home for their employees. A high quality corporation will have high quality employees, who seek high quality cities to live in. If the employees are less likely to move to a city, the corporation will skip over that city.
One excellent example is the story of the Dallas Symphony. I now quote from a supporter of the Symphony, David Lundberg, who moved to Columbus two years ago and was amazed at the quality of the orchestra he heard here. These quotes are excerpted from an excellent letter he wrote, which is posted in full on my blog, The Buzzing Reed. http://glitteringstew.com/reed
...The DSO emerged from bankruptcy in 1974, at full strength, thanks to some farsighted people including Stanley Marcus (Neiman Marcus). During the 70’ s, the DSO had a series of short-term and guest conductors, who allowed the Orchestra to become uninspired and sloppy. Enter Maestro Eduardo Mata, a masterful technician like Reiner, who awakened the musicians’ desire to perform at a higher level. Same script - sour critic, European tour, great reviews, and wonderful community response. The whole situation in Dallas remains positive to this day – pride in and of the musicians, fiscal stability, great arts community, good endowment, a great new $130 Million venue and no debt.In the ensuing years, many Fortune 500 companies relocated their headquarters to the Dallas area. Ones that quickly come to mind are American Airlines, JC Penney, Exxon Mobil, Kimberly Clark, Co—America Bank, Fluor, and Ericsson Telecommunications (North America). Is there a connection here? You bet there is. When major companies decide to relocate, they establish a profile of the qualities that they are seeking at the new location. Common to these profiles is the absolute requirement of a superb, vigorous cultural community (led most naturally by the symphony and opera). While this is not the only criterion, the importance of a vital classical art landscape is undeniable.
As you can see, this is not a matter which concerns only the few thousand people who regularly attend concerts. It is a vital issue which cannot be ignored without regrettable consequences.
You can join the discussion at a new blog I created for that purpose, at Columbus Symphony Musicians Blog.http://symphonycolumbus.blogspot.com
A member of YOUR orchestra
David Thomas
Principal Clarinetist here since 1989.
Teacher of your kids, payer of taxes, contributer to your city.
