Today’s Dispatch article, Public efforts springing up to aid symphony, gave me a little boost this morning when I saw it. Until I read the last paragraph, that is.
The reporters highlighted the numerous efforts around Columbus to raise money, awareness and especially passion for the orchestra. Every bit counts when an arts organization reaches out for support. It’s about much more than dollars. Passion and optimism are money in the bank. People look to the arts to help them rise above the fray. It pays well over the long run to validate those passionate emotions.
Among the efforts described were those of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra League (CSOL), the students of OSU, and a new online group called Symphony Strong, which organized a very successful event at the Worthington Hills Country Club. Our music director, Junichi, also works tirelessly to help save us, a rare and unusual gift from his position, which usually remains aloof of internal problems of their orchestras. (I wonder what his manager is thinking?) Unfortunately, lacking mention was the Women’s Association of the Columbus Symphony, which has an important history of supporting the CSO.
They also featured some background on the two recitals I gave at my home. One phrase summed up the optimistic tone of the article, “But the music trumped the money.”
Every word counts. Even Tony Beadle’s words.
His final words were, “At the end of the day, people have to understand that we’ve got a huge dinosaur here that has to be fed 500 bales of hay a day.”
Dinosaur?! Ah, Mr. Beadle. The musicians and supporters thank you for such passionate and optimistic leadership in the midst of our crisis.
It should be known that, despite being two years into his tenure, Mr. Beadle has yet to move to Columbus in any permanent fashion. It seems Columbus is only a temporary stop off for him before moving on. I wish him well where ever he goes.
