American Orchestra Forum: Talking About Orchestras (complete event videos‪)‬ San Francisco Symphony

Alan Gilbert, Music Director, New York Philharmonic, in conversation with Matthew VanBesien, Executive Director, New York Philharmonic, exploring challenges and opportunities for engaging new audiences for orchestral concerts. Recorded in San Francisco, May 13, 2012.

While classical music continues to grow artistically via commissions, new music, and new channels of distribution, the core orchestral presentation—a live, on-stage concert—is essentially unchanged over the past 100 years. Can that remain the case for the next 100 years? Mark Clague, professor of musicology, University of Michigan; Matthew VanBesien, Executive Director, New York Philharmonic; Sunil Iyengar, Director of Research & Analysis, National Endowment for the Arts; Elizabeth Scott, Chief Media and Digital Officer, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and former V.P., Major League Baseball Productions; Brent Assink, Executive Director, San Francisco Symphony; and Steven Winn, journalist (moderator) in discussion, including audience Q&A. Recorded in San Francisco, May 13, 2012.

What can the American orchestral world learn from major league baseball? The two industries have much more in common than you might think. After years as a media executive for MLB, Elizabeth Scott joined Lincoln Center in 2011 as Chief Media and Digital Officer. Here she talks with journalist Steven Winn about new ways of engaging traditional audiences. Recorded in San Francisco, May 13, 2012.

Sunil Iyengar directs the Office of Research & Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts. Since 2006, the office has produced over 20 research publications and revised the federal definition of what it means to participate in the arts. What does this mean for orchestras, audiences, and musicians? Hard data on some of the thorny issues we think about every day. Here he talks with Mark Clague, professor of music, University of Michigan. Recorded in San Francisco, May 13, 2012.

Roundtable discussion and audience Q&A at the American Orchestra Forum on March 17, 2012 with Mark Clague, professor of musicology, University of Michigan; Ed Sanders, Group Marketing Manager, Creative Lab at Google; Margo Drakos, cellist and Co-founder, InstantEncore; John Adams, composer; Mason Bates, composer; Brent Assink, Executive Director, San Francisco Symphony; and Steven Winn, San Francisco arts journalist and critic.

Ed Sanders, Group Marketing Manager, Creative Lab at Google, and Margo Drakos, cellist and Co-founder, InstantEncore, discuss the many complexities of orchestras as they engage with technology. In conversation with San Francisco journalist Steven Winn at the American Orchestra Forum. Recorded in San Francisco, March 17, 2012.