From the Music Director

A Place at the Table

Like everything in our hectic world, the arts have been in a state of flux for the past few years. An economic downturn saw arts organizations veering off the road to growth and wandering in a forest of self-doubt and disappearing institutions. As always in dire times, preparation, commitment, and dumb luck named the survivors.

But there wasn't an ounce of luck in the survival of America's chamber orchestras. This overlooked act of heroism was the product of dedication, sacrifice, and a new sense of the small orchestra as a central element in American musical art. American audiences are acknowledging the chamber orchestra as a unique entity, with its own sound, its own repertoire, and deserving of its own, distinctive status - its own place at the table.

The Chamber Orchestra of the Springs has been a part of this revolution. For over two decades, the Chamber Orchestra has offered the most diverse and adventurous musical program to the Pikes Peak Region. Along with a generous helping of the great masterworks, our season offers premiers by local composers, masterpieces of the 20th century, uniquely American perspectives on timeless orchestral forms, and some astounding forgotten gems. Fresh, innovative programs like these are attracting new listeners and broadening the horizons of lifelong concertgoers. This is our mission, and, as always, we bring this to you with a pledge to perform music that you will always find accessible and rewarding.

This is a great orchestra! There, I said it.

No ... not in the "recorded legacy, dozens of Grammys, annual world tour" sense. This is a great orchestra because of the indefatigable enthusiasm of these musicians and their board of directors to advance the mission of making great music in this very unique way - as a chamber orchestra. In a sense, they are doing what absolutely must be done for art's sake, or as Victor Hugo said far better:

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.

We thank you, our audience, for being such a critical part of it.

With every good wish,

[signed]

Thomas Wilson