New Haven Symphony Orchestra Inc

THE NHSO ENRICHES CONNECTICUT'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING OFFERED STATEWIDE INSPIRES DEEPER AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT AND MEANINGFUL ARTISTIC AND EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATIONS WHICH INCREASE THE REACH AND IMPACT OF THE SYMPHONY. AUTHENTIC COMMITMENTS TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESS MOVE THE NHSO TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION THAT REFLECTS THE RICHLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE IN ALL AREAS OF SYMPHONY LEADERSHIP.

CLASSICS SERIES: IN THE 2023-24 SEASON, THE NHSO PERFORMED ITS MAINSTAGE CONCERTS AT WOOLSEY HALL AT YALE UNIVERSITY, THE JOHN C. LYMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AT SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY, ST. MARY'S CHURCH, SHELTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHELTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. MUSIC DIRECTOR ALASDAIR NEALE CELEBRATED HIS FINAL SEASON AS THE NHSO'S MUSIC DIRECTOR, AND PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR CHELSEA TIPTON, II LED THE SYMPHONY'S POPS SERIES. THE SYMPHONY WELCOMED ITS NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR, PERRY SO, AT A FREE CONCERT ON THE NEW HAVEN GREEN DURING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS & IDEAS.

HARMONY FELLOWSHIP FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MUSICIANS, CONDUCTORS, ARTS ADMINISTRATORS, BOARD LEADERS -THE NHSO EXPANDED ITS HARMONY FELLOWSHIP FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MUSICIANS, FUNDED BY THE ANN & GORDON GETTY FOUNDATION THROUGH THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS TO INCLUDE CONDUCTING, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND BOARD FELLOWS BRINGING INCREASED DIVERSITY TO ALL AREAS OF THE SYMPHONY. THE INSTRUMENTAL FELLOWSHIP ACCEPTS A COHORT OF TWO MUSICIANS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS EVERY YEAR FOR A TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIP. FELLOWS RECEIVE LESSONS, PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS MOCK AUDITIONS, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY CONCERTS WITH THE ORCHESTRA. AT THE END OF THE TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIP, EACH FELLOW WILL BE INVITED TO ANY FUTURE OPPORTUNITY TO AUDITION FOR THE NHSO.EACH COHORT, ALONG WITH TWO NHSO ORCHESTRA MEMBERS, FORMS ONE OF TWO HARMONY QUARTETS. THE HARMONY QUARTETS ARE INTEGRAL TO NHSO EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON RESILIENCE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, A HARMONY QUARTET PRESENTS A CONFLICT RESOLUTION WORKSHOP. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A SONG WRITING PROJECT WHICH CULMINATES IN THE STUDENTS RECEIVING A PROFESSIONAL RECORDING OF THEIR COMPOSITIONS, PLAYED BY THE HARMONY QUARTETS. CONDUCTING FELLOWS RECEIVE MENTORSHIP FROM MUSIC DIRECTOR ALASDAIR NEALE AND PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR CHELSEA TIPTON WHILE ADMINISTRATIVE AND BOARD FELLOWS ARE PAIRED WITH STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS TO WORK ON PROJECTS AND COMMITTEES THAT ALIGN WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL GOALS. CREATING MUSICAL READERS CREATING MUSICAL READERS HIGHLIGHTS INSTRUMENTS FROM EACH OF THE FOUR FAMILIES OF THE ORCHESTRA IN THE CONTEXT OF LITERACY ACTIVITIES. PROGRAMS ARE PERFORMED AT SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, LIBRARIES, AND THE CONNECTICUT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. DESIGNED FOR PRE-K THROUGH 2ND GRADE, MUSIC AND STORYTELLING ARE COMBINED TO ENCOURAGE AVID READING AND BEGIN A LIFETIME OF MUSICAL AWARENESS. EACH 45-MINUTE PROGRAM FEATURES AN NHSO MUSICIAN ACCOMPANYING A STORYBOOK ON THEIR INSTRUMENT, WITH BOOK TITLES INCLUDING MOLE MUSIC (VIOLIN), TUBBY THE TUBA (TUBA), AND RALPH'S SECRET WEAPON (BASSOON). PRESENTING PARTNERS CONTINUE TO BRING NHSO TEACHING ARTISTS BACK DUE TO THE PROGRAM'S POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUNG READERS.YOUNG COMPOSERS PROJECT - THE PROJECT IS A 2-YEAR EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAM FOR TALENTED AND ENGAGED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ADVANCED MUSICAL STUDY. STUDENTS COMPLETE MUSIC THEORY COURSES; PARTICIPATE IN PRIVATE COMPOSITION LESSONS AND MONTHLY COMPOSITION SEMINARS; AND WORKSHOP DIRECTLY WITH PROFESSIONALS. THE PROJECT CULMINATES IN AN ANNUAL PREMIERE PERFORMANCE OF A CHAMBER WORK WITH THE MUSICIANS OF THE NHSO, WHICH IS RECORDED FOR THE STUDENTS. THE NHSO'S YCP IS 1 OF ONLY 3 IN THE COUNTRY AND HAS WON NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR BOTH ITS DEPTH OF STUDY AND THE PRESTIGIOUS PERSONNEL INVESTED IN THE COMPOSERS' GROWTH. ALL PARTICIPANTS FROM THE PREVIOUS COHORTS HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO CONSERVATORY AND HIGHER-EDUCATION MUSIC PROGRAMS. THIS SEASON PARTICIPANTS WORKED WITH NHSO COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE JOEL THOMPSON.

POPS SERIES: THE NHSO'S VENERABLE POPS SERIES CONCERTS BEGAN IN 1945 AT THE NEW HAVEN ARENA AND HAVE FEATURED SUCH ESTEEMED ARTISTS AS DAVE BRUBECK, JUDY COLLINS, DIZZY GILLESPIE, BENNY GOODMAN, MARVIN HAMLISCH, SKITCH HENDERSON, WYNTON MARSALIS, DUDLEY MOORE, BUDDY RICH, DOC SEVERINSON, ARTIE SHAW, JAMES TAYLOR, AND SARAH VAUGHAN.CURATED BY NHSO PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR CHELSEA TIPTON, II, THE 2023-24 POPS SERIES INCLUDED PERFORMANCES AT THE LYMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN NEW HAVEN, SHELTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND HAMDEN HIGH SCHOOL: A TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLE, HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA, A GERWSHIN CELEBRATION FEATURING RHAPSODY IN BLUE, AND A TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN FEATURING CAPATHIA JENKINS AND RYAN SHAW.THE NHSO PERFORMED THE OPENING NIGHT CONCERT OF THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS & IDEAS, IN JUNE WITH A FREE CONCERT ON THE NEW HAVEN GREEN FEATURED INTERNATIONAL STAR VOCALIST ANGELIQUE KIDJO.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS: THE NEW HAVEN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ANNUALLY BRING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC TO CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE:FAMILY CONCERT SERIES - DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR SMALL ENSEMBLES THAT ALLOW AN INTIMATE AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE, THE NHSO OFFERED TWO FAMILY CONCERT PROGRAMS, EACH PERFORMED IN MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND REGIONAL VENUES. NHSO OFFERED SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES OF THIS SERIES. YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS HAVE BROUGHT FULL ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCES TO PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR OVER 90 YEARS. THESE PERFORMANCES ARE PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. THE NHSO WELCOMES THOUSANDS OF YOUNG LISTENERS TO CONCERTS DESIGNED EXPRESSLY FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, SUPPORTED BY AN EXTENSIVE CURRICULUM GUIDE THAT SUPPORTS STATE AND NATIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS. MANY OF THE SCHOOLS HOST PRE-CONCERT VISITS TO THEIR CLASSROOMS BY NHSO TEACHING ARTISTS. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STUDENTS HEAR LIVE CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, THE NHSO OFFERED FREE, PUBLIC PERFORMANCES OF THIS PROGRAM IN NEW HAVEN, AS WELL AS IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIP-STYLE PERFORMANCES. HARMONY FELLOWSHIP FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MUSICIANS, CONDUCTORS, ARTS ADMINISTRATORS, BOARD LEADERS -THE NHSO EXPANDED ITS HARMONY FELLOWSHIP FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MUSICIANS, ORIGINALLY FUNDED BY THE ANN & GORDON GETTY FOUNDATION THROUGH THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS TO INCLUDE CONDUCTING, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND BOARD FELLOWS BRINGING INCREASED DIVERSITY TO ALL AREAS OF THE SYMPHONY. THE INSTRUMENTAL FELLOWSHIP ACCEPTS A COHORT OF TWO MUSICIANS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS EVERY YEAR FOR A TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIP. FELLOWS RECEIVE LESSONS, PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS MOCK AUDITIONS, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY CONCERTS WITH THE ORCHESTRA. AT THE END OF THE TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIP, EACH FELLOW WILL BE INVITED TO ANY FUTURE OPPORTUNITY TO AUDITION FOR THE NHSO.EACH COHORT, ALONG WITH TWO NHSO ORCHESTRA MEMBERS, FORMS ONE OF TWO HARMONY QUARTETS. THE HARMONY QUARTETS ARE INTEGRAL TO NHSO EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON RESILIENCE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, A HARMONY QUARTET PRESENTS A CONFLICT RESOLUTION WORKSHOP. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A SONG WRITING PROJECT WHICH CULMINATES IN THE STUDENTS RECEIVING A PROFESSIONAL RECORDING OF THEIR COMPOSITIONS, PLAYED BY THE HARMONY QUARTETS. CONDUCTING FELLOWS RECEIVE MENTORSHIP FROM MUSIC DIRECTOR ALASDAIR NEALE AND PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR CHELSEA TIPTON WHILE ADMINISTRATIVE AND BOARD FELLOWS ARE PAIRED WITH STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS TO WORK ON PROJECTS AND COMMITTEES THAT ALIGN WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL GOALS. CREATING MUSICAL READERS CREATING MUSICAL READERS HIGHLIGHTS INSTRUMENTS FROM EACH OF THE FOUR FAMILIES OF THE ORCHESTRA IN THE CONTEXT OF LITERACY ACTIVITIES. PROGRAMS ARE PERFORMED AT SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, LIBRARIES, AND THE CONNECTICUT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. DESIGNED FOR PRE-K THROUGH 2ND GRADE, MUSIC AND STORYTELLING ARE COMBINED TO ENCOURAGE AVID READING AND BEGIN A LIFETIME OF MUSICAL AWARENESS. EACH 45-MINUTE PROGRAM FEATURES AN NHSO MUSICIAN ACCOMPANYING A STORYBOOK ON THEIR INSTRUMENT, WITH BOOK TITLES INCLUDING MOLE MUSIC (VIOLIN), TUBBY THE TUBA (TUBA), AND RALPH'S SECRET WEAPON (BASSOON). PRESENTING PARTNERS CONTINUE TO BRING NHSO TEACHING ARTISTS BACK DUE TO THE PROGRAM'S POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUNG READERS.YOUNG COMPOSERS PROJECT - THE PROJECT IS A 2-YEAR EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAM FOR TALENTED AND ENGAGED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ADVANCED MUSICAL STUDY. STUDENTS COMPLETE MUSIC THEORY COURSES; PARTICIPATE IN PRIVATE COMPOSITION LESSONS AND MONTHLY COMPOSITION SEMINARS; AND WORKSHOP DIRECTLY WITH PROFESSIONALS. THE PROJECT CULMINATES IN AN ANNUAL PREMIERE PERFORMANCE OF A CHAMBER WORK WITH THE MUSICIANS OF THE NHSO, WHICH IS RECORDED FOR THE STUDENTS. THE NHSO'S YCP IS 1 OF ONLY 3 IN THE COUNTRY AND HAS WON NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR BOTH ITS DEPTH OF STUDY AND THE PRESTIGIOUS PERSONNEL INVESTED IN THE COMPOSERS' GROWTH. ALL PARTICIPANTS FROM THE PREVIOUS COHORTS HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO CONSERVATORY AND HIGHER-EDUCATION MUSIC PROGRAMS.