by Staff
This past Monday, the Akron Symphony Orchestra revised its plans for the coming year. The previously announced 2020-2021 concert season has been moved forward to 2021-2022, and the Orchestra will instead present the ASO Interlude Season — Akron Symphony’s Gift to the Community, designed to share free music throughout Northeast Ohio.
“I’m tremendously excited about the Interlude Season,” ASO Music Director Christopher Wilkins said in a press release. “I do mourn the loss of a full orchestra season. But ironically, it gives us the chance to do a great many things we’ve always wanted to do. Our greatest asset is the creativity of our musicians, and this new plan allows us to utilize their skills in an extraordinary variety of ways.”
During the season, which will run from August 2020 through May 2021, ASO musicians will provide free performances with numerous collaborative partners, including the Akron Art Museum, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Akron Public Schools, Akron-Summit County Public Library, the Akron Zoo, International Institute of Akron, Jilly’s Music Room, Love Akron, Mustard Seed Market & Café, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Summa Health, the Summit County Historical Society, and Tuesday Musical Association.
“There’s no question that our community needs music right now. It needs the comfort, healing, joy, and sense of togetherness that music offers like nothing else,” Wilkins Said. “We look forward to the coming months as we work with our community partners—both familiar and new—to share our gift of music throughout Northeast Ohio. We hope that in this way we can make a real difference in people’s lives.”
In addition, the Orchestra will develop digital content, including educational programs designed for classroom teachers, music teachers and adult education that will be accessible at no charge through our website and social media channels.
“The Interlude Season will ensure that the Orchestra continues to fulfill its mission to the community by providing unprecedented access to music,” ASO Executive Director Paul Jarrett said in the release.
To learn more about becoming a community partner during the Interlude Season or to make your own suggestion as to where you would like to hear the musicians perform, visit the ASO Interlude webpage. For any other questions, please contact the Symphony Office by email at or by phone at 330.535.8131.
“On behalf of the working musicians of the Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra Committee would like to thank Executive Director Paul Jarrett, our management, Board of Trustees, and Local 24 of the American Federation of Musicians for enabling a collaborative environment to help create this innovative plan to enrich the lives of our Akron community,” Orchestra Committee Chair and Principal Percussionist Rob Kistler said. “We look forward to the opportunity to reach out to all areas and demographics of the City of Akron and Northeast Ohio, and are honored to share our gift of music during these unprecedented times.”
ASO patrons and subscribers who currently have tickets for the 2020–2021 season will have their subscriptions moved to the 2021–2022 season automatically, ensuring their seats for when the Orchestra returns to performing at E.J. Thomas Hall.
Published on ClevelandClassical.com July 16, 2020.
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