Welcome to the Winter edition of Symphony Spectrum! This quarterly newsletter provides updates on the contributions of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra's (GSO) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and community developments related to the GSO.
As we make our way into 2021, we hope you were able to find joy in the socially-distanced, often virtual, Holiday season with your families and are filled with hope for the New Year.
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With gratitude,
Keyshia Haithcock Gray and Myron D. White, Ph.D.
EDI Committee Co-Chairs
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Spectrum Sounds Vol. 1 Playlist
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In celebration of the upcoming Black History Month, we have put together a wonderful playlist for you to enjoy, comprised of a few of our favorite Black composers. You will hear from Florence Beatrice Price, Undine Smith Moore, William Grant Still, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and more. Also, we're excited to share that a few of these pieces will be featured in the 2021-2022 GSO Masterworks Season and some of these composers reappear in Education Concerts (more info in below sections). Please enjoy!
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On Nov. 22, 2020, the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra (GSYO) held their Fall Performance, a live stream from inside the Tanger Center! Above, is a link to a video of the Youth Philharmonic, an ensemble within the GSYO, performing Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 11 by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
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Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (December 25, 1745 – June 12, 1799)
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This exciting program included many composers from diverse backgrounds, including Soon Hee Newbold, Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, and Carlos Gardel. Below, you will find a link to the full GSYO Fall Performance Program and all videos from this performance, filmed on the Tanger Center stage!
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The GSO is proud to have continued serving our community this Winter through Pop-Up Concerts. Thanks in part to BB&T now Truist and Cone Health, the GSO has brought beautiful music to our community in safe, socially-distanced locations over the past many months. From retirement centers (as part of the CaringSound Program) to breweries, here's a small sample of the recent concert schedule, which we hope to resume this Spring!
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- Nov 7, 2020 - GSO String Quartet at LeBauer Park
- Dec 1, 2020 - GSO Brass and Drum Ensemble at Twin Lakes
- Dec 11 - 12, 2020 - GSO Brass and Drum Ensemble at Mt. Zion
- Dec 15, 2020 - GSO String Trio at Riverlanding
- Dec 17, 2020 - GSO Brass and Drum Ensemble at Hawthorne Apartments
- Dec 20, 2020 - GSO Brass and Drum Ensemble at South End Brewery
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Event Update
On December 11 and 12, 2020, the GSO Brass and Drum Ensemble performed festive holiday music at Mt. Zion Baptist Church for their Zion Wonderland Drive-Thru Experience!
Across the 2-day event, 980 cars participated in the event!
The GSO would like to offer a sincere thank you to Mt. Zion for inviting our ensemble to participate in this event and to all those that showed their support by driving through to witness the spectacular lights and music!
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Education Concerts Update |
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COVID-19 gathering restrictions have not only put limitations on the GSO's traditional POPS and Masterworks concerts, but they have also affected how the GSO conducts its education programs. Fortunately, a new initiative between the GSO and Guilford County Schools will allow the filming and distribution of a virtual concert program held in lieu of GSO's Elementary School Concerts!
Filmed on January 15, 2021, with every care being given to the safety of all participants, 60 GSO musicians gathered to rehearse and film this concert in the spacious Tanger Center theater. Special masks were purchased for wind and brass players, and monitors were on stage to ensure social distancing and mask-wearing by all involved.
Furthermore, programming and implementation were strategic with an intentional focus on EDI commitments. For example, the GSO continued its partnership with local poet and educator Josephus III and aerial artist Sabrina Woods (pictured above). Select GSO musicians were also filmed introducing pieces and sharing information about their instrument to ensure representation of typically underrepresented groups.
This fantastic project will be used as a resource for elementary music teachers throughout our community. Please check out this short clip:
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Greensboro Symphony Orchestra Inc.
200 N. Davie St. Ste 301, Greensboro, NC 27401
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