Goodbye Spokane, Hello Pittsburgh

As a born and raised Floridian, I can sympathize with Katie. Between Grand Rapids, Spokane, and now Pittsburgh, I'M COLD!

I am now an official blogger on the Pittsburgh Symphony wesbite. Fellow alumnus/PSO Director of Corporate Support & Special Projects/blogger extraordinaire Jeff Tsai wrote a nice introduction for me, and I just finished my first post. I felt so guilty about starting on the PSO blog while neglecting the blog of my Frolicking Fellows that I just had to check in. I also thought that our blog audience may have grown recently with the announcement of finalists for the 2007-08 Fellowship class.

I'm just finishing up with the Spokane Symphony. My time here has been wonderful, and I can't believe how quickly these seven weeks have gone by. Executive Director Brenda Nienhouse is a wonderful mentor, and I've learned so much from the entire staff.

One of the most interesting aspects of my time with the Spokane Symphony is how everything everyone does is colored/consumed by the renovation of an historic Fox Movie Theater that will serve as the new home of the Symphony. The Symphony rallied to purchase this building when it was slated for demolition. This $31 million project is bringing an art deco icon back to life and will rejuvenate an economically-depressed area of downtown Spokane. Here's a picture of an amazing metal and glass sunburst that hangs above the proscenium. By the late fall, the Fox Theater's beautiful murals and intricate metalwork will be fully restored, and the worn-down 1930s theater will be brought back to life.

I have benefited from complete access to all the challenges and opportunities that surround the renovation. Historic and New Market Tax Credits are being utilized to fund a large portion of the project budget. In order to benefit from this funding vehicle, the Symphony is going through a truly complicated process of organizational restructuring, long-term budgeting, and bureaucratic hoop-jumping. The tax credit structure called for the creation of a for-profit Fox management entity. Brenda serves as the head of both the Symphony and the Fox and faces challenges in straddling two boards and successfully fundraising for both entities simultaneously. I have also benefited from my involvement with the Symphony’s strategic planning consultant and consultants brought in to aid in the completion of the Fox Theater Capital Campaign and the Symphony’s Annual Fund. I participated in interviews of candidates for the position of Fox General Manager, and I also made a presentation to a local Kiwanis Club on the economic impact of the arts in the U.S. and the Symphony/Fox Theater in Spokane. It's an exciting time for the Spokane Symphony!

I have just two days left here, and then I am off to Pittsburgh. I'm not sure exactly what awaits me at the PSO, but I am excited to be placed in an orchestra with four Fellow alumni on staff. I know I will be doing some work on a huge fundraising campaign, and I'll also be involved in artistic administration and marketing. I just hope the weather cooperates this weekend as I travel across the country. I left my car back in Grand Rapids, so I am excited to fly there and meet GR Symphony President Melia Tourangeau for breakfast before I hit the road. I wish my fellow Fellows safe travels, and I hope to blog again soon.

On to THE COLDEST CITY IN AMERICA (maybe)

<-Maroon Bells in Aspen

I think many fellows embarking on this program have wondered- how did I get the orchestras I have been assigned? Allison Ball, our fearless leader, has assured me that the process is long, and thoughtful. When we found out we were fellows, we were politely asked what orchestras we would like to be assigned. I am now certain that was a mere frivolity on the part of the League, a chance to laugh at my one and only request to please send me to SOMEPLACE WARM! After living in Miami for two years, I own no coats, and only one pair of closed-toe shoes. A travesty: I have 15 pairs of dazzling, strappy sandals that I have had no use for since I started the fellowship. While I am SO excited to start working with Chicago Symphony, I can only question their sanity in giving concerts in the MIDDLE OF WINTER IN CHICAGO! The Cleveland Orchestra really has the right idea, January and February in the Midwest is really best spent in Florida.

I'm done with the woe- I am very very excited to start in Chicago. I have found the most adorable home in Lincoln Park, and it has been my dream to hear this orchestra every day and night.

Updates from my last assignments- Nashville, (that's pronounced Naaaaashville) was a most excellent way to start the fellowship. My first week there was the opening of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and the International Bluegrass festival. I was up until 3 am everyday for a month, either totally consumed by the excitement of the explosion of the symphony in Nashville, or happily drinking beer from a plastic cup and toe-tapping my feet to the best bluegrass I have ever heard.
Me and my fabulous roomate and Director of Marketing Ronda Combs at the Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center opening gala.

While I was there, I had the fortunate experience to live and work with an orchestra that was the darling of its city. I was inspired by a group of people who really loved their community, and passionately felt that having a great orchestra was the best way to show their love and to give back.



The Virginia Symphony is NOT in Richmond- which I am asked on a weekly basis by those from outside the Old Dominion. It's in Norfolk (pronounced Naw-fuk), and Chesapeake, and Suffolk, and Newport News, and Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach, and every other nook of Hampton Roads. It has been a completely unique experience, and a much more Southern experience than Nashville. From the way they raise support in the communities, to the importance of the old families in that network of support, to the fact that church is one of the best ways to meet people here.

The Virginia Symphony is writing the introduction to its success story. After a long period of growth and development, I believe the VSO is in a position to place feet on solid ground, and to start marching towards its vision for the future. It's been a pleasure to help shape this vision, and I will miss this band!

New Horizon for the Virginia Symphony (and me) ->


I have one week left here in Virginia- I'll spend the rest of my time solidifying ties with the old and new friends and family I have here (lucky me!) and looking for a winter coat!

Co-Pilot

My time with the North Carolina Symphony has really flown by, with only three weeks left in the assignment. The entire experience has far exceed my expectations- the projects I have led, the people I have met, the great concerts I worked, and the friends I have made. I can't begin to tell you how much I have learned, and I still have two more orchestras assignments to go!

The highlight of my time with the North Carolina Symphony has been the Blue Skies, Red Earth Tour that I have been leading. The orchestra had two free weeks in the middle of May 2007 that they needed to fill to utilize the orchestra's services. Well I was given the task of figuring out what to do in May. The unique thing about the North Carolina Symphony is that they try to serve the entire state of North Carolina, however, they had not been in the far western region in over 10 years. So, it seemed like a great time to get the musicians back out there. Earlier in the season, the orchestra performed a pops concert with an array of North Carolinian artists that performed music from North Carolina- piedmont blues, gospel, bluegrass, native american music and more. This concert seemed perfect to take to the western part of the state where the Appalachian Mountains are full of these genres.

Well, to get the tour rolling, I needed to find some money to fund the project. I met with a local bank CEO, who is also a member of the orchestra's board, and pitched the idea of the project to him. He does a great deal of business in the western part of the state, and after our meeting, he decided to become the title sponsor of the tour. This was the first time I ever solicited someone, and the feeling of success was amazing. Who knew development could be so fun.

The CEO also agreed to help raise more money for the project, and offered to take a trip with me to Asheville, North Carolina were a lot of his colleagues were based. The best part of this deal was that we flew on the bank's corporate jet! I had never been on a private jet before, so this was quite an experience. When we arrived in Asheville, the soliciting began. It was great to see a board member soliciting on behalf of the symphony, and every person we asked couldn't help but say yes to our proposal. The trip resulted in raising enough money to make sure the tour would actually happen, and we could even net income in the end.

After having this amazing fundraising experience I thought things couldn't get any better. Well, I was wrong. On the flight back to Raleigh, I was given the opportunity to co-pilot the airplane! I rode up front the entire flight, wore the head set and even got to talk to the control tower. Who knew that the fellowship would lead to all these great opportunities and experiences? I can't wait to see what my other orchestra assignments have in store.

Our chariot awaits

Grant Yarber, CEO of Capital Bank, and I

Up in the cockpit with Earl the pilot

Co-pilot in action

The Clay Aiken Lisa?!

I'm killing two birds with one stone. Those two birds are (1) meeting potential symphony audience members, and (2) getting a full-body workout in just 30 minutes. The stone? Curves! Yes, Curves, the women's fitness franchise.

A few of my mom's friends are members of Curves, and I always thought Curves was designed for that demographic. I may be the youngest member of my Curves, but I've been going for two months, and I actually really like it. It's two minutes from where I live, the closest gym is really far away, ::insert additional excuses here::.

There is always one staff member on duty at Curves, and a big part of her job is encouraging conversation among members. Linda, the woman who usually works when I work out, has the enviable talent of remembering every member's name, her kids' names, her dog's name, where she works, etc.

Linda knows I work at the Grand Rapids Symphony. Last week, I walked into Curves and Linda exclaimed, "Oh my gosh, Lisa! I heard an ad on the radio! I didn't know Clay Aiken was singing with the Grand Rapids Symphony! Do you have any information we could post on the bulletin board?!" Indeed, the Grand Rapids Symphony will be celebrating "Christmas with Clay Aiken" on December 19. I can't say I'm a fan, but I was more than happy to bring in a poster and a stack of postcards to place at the check-in area.

The very next day, I walked in the door to Linda's effusive voice: "That's her!" Another woman: "The Clay Aiken Lisa?!" I was a very popular girl for the duration of my workout. After explaining the details of the concert and directing the women to the stack of glossy postcards, I feel like I've helped the Grand Rapids Symphony tap a new market segment. I'm following up with a few women who are planning on purchasing tickets, and hopefully they'll buy them soon since this show is selling fast.

The Car

Ok, I'm finally getting around to the post about my car, the first one I've ever bought. Previously I traveled full time, or lived in NYC, so the whole idea of car ownership was not something I had to worry about.

I was all set to make a sensible used car purchase, until I saw a Chevy HHR on the street. When I looked the car up on the web and saw they came in the color "Sunburst Metallic Orange," getting one became a religious quest for me.

(Check out a pic here: http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/49394/alt.jpg )

My friend Eric--my 'sensible' friend--made many sound arguments for buying a used car with a track record instead...to which I replied, "did you see the ORANGE one??" I'm not sure Eric appreciated the logic of my argument, but I'm happy to say that, thanks to a reasonable price and good financing, I was able to make it work, and I'm the proud driver of an orange HHR.

Incidentally, I bought the car in Nevada, was heading to California for work, was most recently a resident of New York, had a driver's license in Maryland, and a new home address in South Carolina...that made registering and tagging the car really interesting!

Well I hope you enjoyed my car digression--I'll blog about actual League Fellowship matters soon...

At the Grand Rapids Symphony

It’s been a long time since my last post, and for that I apologize profusely. When our time at Aspen came to a close, I said goodbye to my fellow Fellows as we went our separate ways.

Just a word about travels throughout the Fellowship year: downloading a few audiobooks onto your iPod makes the drive pass more quickly, especially the endless trek on I-70 across Kansas. Companionship also helps. I made the trip with my betta fish named Cup (pictured above in his traveling tank and his permanent home). Cup has been with me for an improbable two years, so I’m glad he can keep me company during this crazy year away from familiar friends and family. I think he enjoyed listening to Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” as much as I did.

I am now settled at the Grand Rapids Symphony, working closely with orchestra president Melia Tourangeau. My lead projects include writing several grant proposals, organizing a guest artist master class series, and researching orchestras’ summer seasons in anticipation the GRS’s move to a new venue in the summer of 2008.

I spend a lot of time observing and participating in meetings: senior staff, artistic planning, board, executive committee, development, production, marketing, etc. I’ve made a point to organize my notes from these meetings to keep a record of lessons learned and questions to ask. Within twenty-four hours, I type my notes and replay the meeting in my head as I try to notice trends in management style, conflict resolution, and institutional opinion. Wow, that sounds so nerdy. It’s such a unique opportunity to be thrown into an administration with no preconceived notions of the organization. Melia and the rest of the staff give me a great deal of access to meetings of all kinds, and I feel so fortunate to be in an environment where I can learn so much.

Leaving Aspen

I can't believe the Aspen Festival went by so quickly. I was so busy I had no time to really blog, as you can tell!

So how was Aspen? Um, I would say youthful first of all. Chatting with a fellow horn player, I was asked when I started college (Florida State grad here--Go Seminoles!). I answered, "I started in 1984," to which the young student replied, "oh that was the year I was born!" It was if I had been clubbed with a wheelchair!

But it was good to be surrounded by so many talented younger musicians--it reminded me of the enormous responsibility and privelege that those who choose the path of symphonic leadership have toward the next generation. We must strive to not only maintain, but to grow and create symphonic institutions that will provide viable career opportunities for this huge pool of amazing players we have in this country.

In case I didn't mention it before, at Aspen I managed the Aspen Festival Orchestra, a.k.a. "the orchestra that plays all the huge pieces." The top musical highlights of this experience for me this summer were:

1. the Aspen Festival Orchestra's performance of Christopher Rouse's "Gorgon"

This piece actually sent me to the hardware store in a last-minute search for earplugs for the musicians! Written in 1985, Gorgon is one of the most notorious symphonic pieces--it is reputed to be the loudest acoustic piece written. While often despised by the musicians who have to perform it, I must admit as a listener the piece completely floored me. How often do you hear sounds from an orchestra you have literally never heard before? Rouse managed to create a whole new vocabulary by writing parts condemned by musicians as 'unplayable.' I agree they are, but I also think that is the point, in order to create the most raw, primal, violent soundscape ever heard from a symphony orchestra. Thanks to a smart and entertaining introduction from Maestro Leonard Slatkin, the audience went wild for this visceral, wildly dramatic piece.

Another highlight was the appearance of Gorgon him (or is it her?) -self, in the person of a very mischievous stage hand who had crafted a Gorgon costume out of a trash bag, cardboard box, and foil. Gorgon actually walked up the backstage stairs past Music Director David Zinman himself, who seemed entirely unfazed. According to backstage mythology Gorgon eats kittens, in case you wondered.

2. Meeting Yo-Yo Ma, and hearing him perform the priemiere of Kevin Puts' "Vision" cello concerto

This was the highlight of my first concert managing the A.F.O. Mr. Ma is an absolute gentleman, who was incredibly generous. He was down to earth, and very passionate in his involvement with the Aspen Festival. Watching his rehearsal process was a lesson in strategic preparation aided by his unmatched musicianship (this was a premiere after all, and not a case where the artist and orchestra knew the piece cold).

3. Hilary Hahn's performance of the Goldmark Concerto with the Aspen Chamber Symphony.

This was simply the most technically perfect violin playing I have ever heard. I don't share the belief that this is at the expense of musicianship in Ms. Hahn's playing, but when you are this good it's easy to see why that criticism may be leveled. Her musicianship is subtle rather than effusive, but it's definitely there.

I could go on for days, there was so much to inspire at Aspen. But I'll stop here in the interest of getting my post up!

Coming soon: Michael gets a Really Really Cool, Really Really Orange Car and heads for (naturally!) Orange County!