Become a Part of Restoring the Arts by Making a Generous Gift
From the Maestro
July 2021
Dear friends,
When we talk about making the arts, and in our case classical music, accessible to a broader audience, what does that really mean?
Accessibility takes many forms. In practical terms, the cost of a ticket along with the time and location of a performance impacts who can attend. Accessibility also has a psychological component. Do people perceive the selection of music on the program to be familiar, relatable or representative in some way?
Our roots as a community orchestra mean that accessibility has always been, and remains, a guiding principle of the PSO and for me personally. When we construct our programs, we consider these aspects of accessibly alongside thematic elements. One of my favorite parts of each performance is the pre-concert talk where I have the chance to pull back the veil of mystery about a composer or a piece of music and help the audience more fully access the story or the context that a particular piece of music conveys.
As an organization, we are careful to set our ticket prices well below the true cost of producing a performance to minimize the financial barrier to attendance. We schedule our regular season concerts at The Music Hall at 3pm on Sundays to encourage people of all ages, and from a broader geographical area, to attend the performances. And we hold our Holiday Pops performances at the local high school so that we can accommodate more families in a space that feels familiar to them.
Any successful art form needs patrons and the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra is no exception. Subscriptions for the 2021-2022 season will go on sale later this month and we encourage you to invest in our full calendar of performances. Together we can ensure ongoing accessibility to classical music in our community.
Be well until next time,
John Page
PSO Music Director
Virtually Enjoy the PSO
Dinner and Dessert Live
A series of short delightful music presentations to be enjoyed while you gather round the dinner table or wind down after a long day.
Midday Maestro Lunch-in:
Symphony 101
Our already wildly popular series of lectures from Music Director John Page. Always charming, always lighthearted and always fascinating Maestro Page will teach you things you’ve always wanted to know but never asked. Learn how to listen with new ears next time you come to the PSO!
Live in your Living Room
Our gift to you is this series of chamber music and solo performances to be enjoyed on a Sunday afternoon from the comfort of your home. The finest works of music performed LIVE , to add that element of excitement as you become part of the performance in real time.
Meet the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra
For the younger audiences who wish to learn about the instruments of the orchestra. This year we have created a series of “pandemic friendly” videos introducing the different families of instruments that make up a Symphony Orchestra.
