Spartanburg Philharmonic announces a safe return to live music
September 7, 2021
As the beginning of the 2021-2022 Season approaches, the Spartanburg Philharmonic announces safety guidelines designed to protect the health of concert-goers. “Our audience is ready for live music to return,” shares Executive Director Kathryn Boucher. “Still, the Spartanburg Philharmonic continues to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, and along with it, our duty to protect our staff, musicians, and patrons. To ensure the safety of anyone who engages with our organization, our Board of Directors has enacted a series of policies according to recommendations by the CDC and local health agencies. We will continue to monitor and make the necessary changes to our policies throughout the season to further protect the health of our patrons.”
For the first two concerts of the season, Radiant on September 18th and Cheeky on October 1st, guests must wear face coverings throughout the concert. All Philharmonic staff, musicians, and volunteers will also always wear masks. This policy follows the Twichell Auditorium and the Chapman Cultural Center guidelines, serving as venues for the upcoming performances. Additionally, the Spartanburg Philharmonic is reducing both concerts’ available seating, limiting the audience to 500 for Radiant and 250 for Cheeky. Socially distanced seating will be available for both performances.
“In addition to implementing these measures in the concert hall,” says Kathryn Boucher, “the Board of Directors has taken steps to further protect our audience and our organization as a whole. At this time, our patrons are not required to be vaccinated to attend a concert. Our new policy requires that all Philharmonic staff, board members, adult musicians, and adult volunteers show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test administered within 72 hours of an in-person event. We firmly believe that these procedures will better ensure the health of our community and all that attend our concerts.”
The 2021-2022 Season, “Be Inspired,” opens on September 18th at 7:00 PM with Radiant. Part of the Zimmerli series held at Twichell Auditorium and led by guest conductor Kayoko Dan, the program is dedicated to the Spartanburg area’s front-line workers and the memory of those lost over the past year. Including an exceptional performance of Edward Elgar’s famous Nimrod from his Enigma Variations in memory of long-time patron and friend, Kurt Zimmerli. The entire program shines with emotion and vibrant melodies, perfect for returning to live music performance.
After an intermission due to COVID, the Espresso Series returns to the Chapman Cultural Center on October 1st beginning at 5:30 PM for Cheeky – a night of classic comedy and live orchestral music. The silent-movie double feature showcases Charlie Chaplin’s most memorable character, The Tramp, and Buster Keaton’s slap-stick romp One Week. The Spartanburg Philharmonic chamber ensemble accompanies the films with a lighthearted, upbeat soundtrack that includes works by Edvard Grieg, Franz Liszt, Ludwig van Beethoven Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Louise Farrenc, Fanny Mendelssohn, Samuel Coleridge Taylor, and more. Details of each concert, including ticketing information, are available at www.SpartanburgPhilharmonic.org/events. Current safety guidelines are also available on the website and will be updated throughout the season.
About Spartanburg Philharmonic
Almost a century old, Spartanburg Philharmonic has its roots in the 1895 May Festival, the precursor of the South Atlantic States Music Festival founded in 1898, and one of only four such festivals featuring orchestras in the United States at that time. Recognized as a pillar of creativity, inspiration, and entertainment, Spartanburg Philharmonic is a modern orchestra with a strong foundation in traditional and contemporary music. As a firm proponent of diversity and inclusion, the Philharmonic is dedicated to creating innovative and exhilarating experiences through memorable performances of well-known and rarely played works by female composers, composers of color, and both established and contemporary composers, for all members of the Spartanburg community and beyond. An arts organization whose mission is to enrich, inspire, and educate through live performances of high-quality music, the Spartanburg Philharmonic partners with a variety of community, health, and education organizations to provide opportunities for all ages and abilities to enjoy. Amongst the programs are the Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestras, offering instrumental music education to students grades 6 through 12 in 16 different schools across three counties; and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute’s Link Up program, providing a music curriculum to 4th graders throughout Spartanburg County. www.spartanburgphilharmonic.org
