The impact of recording local orchestral performances goes beyond simply being able to watch from afar!
“Being a performing musician generally means months, sometimes years of work for a single ephemeral moment – the concert. That is indeed a special process, but it’s also nice to have a record of the concert,” shared Andrew Koehler, music director of the Kalamazoo Philharmonia at Kalamazoo College as well as the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, whose performances are recorded and put onto PMN’s streaming platforms and cable channels.
“This is a useful reference resource for the performers’ continued musical growth, but it’s also a wonderful way for us to share our efforts more widely – with friends who could not come to the concert, with family who live far away, and potentially with a wider community of music-lovers who are interested in the artistry happening here locally or at a particular point in time. PMN makes this preservation possible. It is immensely rewarding to know that the Junior Symphony and the Philharmonia are contributing to the vibrancy of Kalamazoo that PMN so aptly documents.
“I see members of the orchestra posting these videos, sharing them with their friends, and exhibiting a great sense of pride in doing so. Being able to say “this is our work” is such a wonderful privilege and it continues to heighten the visibility of the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony and the Kalamazoo Philharmonia.”
– Andrew Koehler, music director of the Kalamazoo Philharmonia at K College and the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra.
Thanks to the support of people like you, over the past year, Public Media Network recorded and shared more than 20 local performances through the Performing Arts Showcase. Documenting these performances helps to build and reflect Kalamazoo’s diverse arts identity, preserve the work of local performers for current and future generations to enjoy and learn from, and connects their artistry with audiences far beyond the concert hall.
Check out recordings of past performances by clicking here. If you’re able, consider making a donation, to help us continue sharing Kalamazoo’s creative heartbeat with the world.
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