The Magic of Community Ensembles
Come & Play with the Richmond Symphony! Interview recorded October 2014.
From Richmond to Buffalo, Savannah to St. Louis, I have had the immense privilege of bringing voices and instruments together in "community sing/play" events. Though these gatherings are often brief—ranging from a single afternoon to a weeklong festival—they vividly demonstrate music's unique power to unite people instantly around a shared purpose.
Whether we are singing the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Marianna Martines, or Alex Berko, the music acts as a catalyst. In an instant, the pursuit of artistic excellence takes center stage, effortlessly bridging the divisions of daily life.
One of my most cherished memories comes from Richmond, where a small staff team and I developed the inaugural Come and Play! event. We initially hoped for a modest turnout—perhaps 50 community musicians brave enough to sit side-by-side with members of the Richmond Symphony for an afternoon of musical fellowship.
Lo and behold, 300 musicians signed up.
In the years that followed, that number grew to 750, completely filling the floor of the VCU basketball arena. I’ll admit to a brief flicker of panic before cueing Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King—wondering if 57 flutes, 49 clarinets, 7 bassoons, 4 oboes, and 40 trumpets could possibly stay together. But they did far more than keep time: they played with verve, focus, and fierce commitment.
The impact extended far beyond that afternoon. Young students met mentors who would guide them toward careers in music. And one gentleman was inspired to dust off his trumpet after 50 years of silence; he has practiced every single day since that first Come and Play!
Leading attendees through both the musical and historical tapestry of masterworks remains one of the highlights of my career. A few memorable highlights across the country include:
Richmond Symphony: Come and Play! and annual Messiah singalongs
Wintergreen Music Festival: Sing with Us! featuring Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Missa Brevis in F, Martines’ Dixit Dominus, Bach’s Cantata No. 71, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Alex Berko’s Sacred Place, and Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass
Williamsburg Choral Society Summer Sings: Orff’s Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis and Mass in C, Mozart’s Requiem, and Fauré’s Requiem
National Symphony Orchestra: Friday Morning Sings
Additional Community Singalongs: Savannah Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, and Clarendon Music
