Knuckles crack and cellos sing as they’re plucked beneath the experienced fingers of the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra (LSO) string section, sounds which are synonymous with symphony rehearsals.
The LSO’s second performance of their 55th season includes an array of compositions, some of which are theme songs of video games, like Kingdom of Hearts.
A surprising choice of music to many who perhaps relate the LSO to the elderly, affluent patronage that is often associated with classical music.
According to online news magazine, slate.com, we live in an age where less than three per cent of albums sold are categorized as classical music.
Compare this with the sales of rock’n’roll, l which grabbed 35 per cent of total music sales in the United States in 2013, you have to wonder how a purveyor of classical music remains relevant.
Nick Sullivan is the executive director of the LSO and believes that not-for-profit organizations are heading in the right direction, in order to attract new blood to their seats come performance day.
“Our recent performance was Beetles and Beethoven and aside from the great alliteration, there is some fabulous music created by the Beatles. So putting an orchestral twist on those iconic bands, is a great way for us to connect with our audience, simply because that is music that we also love as musicians.”
Aside from attracting new patrons to the LSO, Sullivan also believes by combing classics such as Beethoven with newer artists like the Beatles, the orchestra is also able to challenge and recruit new musicians to their ranks.
Combined with the rich musical education hub that the University of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music provides to southern Alberta, is what keeps the LSO going from strength to strength according to Sullivan.
Sarah Viejou who plays the French horn and is an orchestra musician, is one musician who was exposed to the LSO through her studies at the university.
“I got involved with the LSO through my music teacher, Dr. Tom Staples. Dr. Staples frequently invites student musicians to join the horn section, and I was lucky enough to do so throughout my time as a music student at the university.”
Viejou goes on to say that classical music is timeless, as it appeals to every soul. He also said that when combined with the LSO’s access pass program, young people have every opportunity to get out and experience a new type of live performance.
The access pass program is a community partnership project where the LSO is able to offer symphony tickets to anyone between the ages of 15 and 29 at a lower price with help from TD Financial.
Kalaine Devine, the Allied Arts Council’s marketing and communications coordinator, believes that Lethbridge has a robust and strong arts community, which she says is supported by a growing young population within the city.
“You kind of have those anchor groups that have been here for really long periods of time and they attract people who may not necessarily go to an art event but will go and try out the symphony, so the LSO acts as gateway to the arts culture in Lethbridge.”
With the inclusion of pieces like the soundtrack of the video game Halo and Gustov Holst’s seven-movement piece, The Planets in the LSO’s upcoming performance, it will remain to be seen whether ticket sales reflect their enthusiasm for generating new patrons.
If you’d like to see the LSO in action, you can purchase tickets to their upcoming performances by clicking over to lethbridgesymphony.org.