Orchestrating Change by Canton Symphony Orchestra

Episode 5 - Leading the Change with Marie-Hélène Bernard

Today on Orchestrating Change, Marie-Helene Bernard guides us through a conversation about what it means to be a leader in the field of orchestral music. She speaks on her experience as both a female and an immigrant and how that has affected her leadership style and her view on the future of this field. She is dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion in her organizations and strives to create an inclusive environment in her organizations so the future of orchestral music is more diverse and representative of the communities we serve.

Canton Symphony Orchestra knows the need for change within the orchestral community. The tradition of classical music has ignored many communities that have contributed to the development and canon of repertoire played in the concert hall. While Canton Symphony is a regional orchestral, change starts at the smallest level. With “Orchestrating Change”, the Canton Symphony Orchestra hopes to facilitate conversations that will make the concert hall a more welcoming place for previously ignored communities as well as create more acceptance and diversity on the stage.

In addition to Orchestrating Change internally, educating audiences to issues surrounding diversity and inclusion will be a priority. Music by Black, Latinx, female, Asian, and LGBTQAI+ musicians and composers has been noticeably absent in the programming produced by established institutions in comparison to those who are white and male. Canton Symphony Orchestra hopes to be a more welcoming community that is reflective of the demographics in Canton, Ohio and the surrounding major metropolitan areas.

Patrons who wish to sign-up for email reminders may do so at www.cantonsymphony.org/orchestrating-change. More information, including additional episodes, will be released in our weekly newsletter and social media accounts.

https://www.cantonsymphony.org/episode-5-marie-helene-bernard/

Episode 4 - Navigating the Unknown with Michelle Charles

On today’s episode we discuss Michelle Charles’ career path and how she has navigated unexpected developments as the Executive Director of the Canton Symphony. What does an orchestral organization do when faced with events like COVID-19, racial injustice and the me too movement? What is the responsibility of the orchestra and how can the orchestra push to orchestrate change to create a more diverse and inclusive future?

Michelle has been President & CEO since 2011. Previously serving in all capacities of the organization as chorus member and volunteer, board trustee and staff, she continues to be a driving force behind the increasing notoriety of the Canton Symphony.  Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music History and Theory from Hiram College, where she graduated summa cum laude. Michelle is currently the Past President of the Rotary Club of Canton and District Governor Nominee Designate for Rotary District 6650 and is a Paul Harris Fellow.  She is currently serving on the boards of The Friends of the Summit (91.3 FM) where she serves as Treasurer, and the Leadership Stark County Alumni Board. She was a member of the 27th Class of Leadership Stark County, and is currently a member of Woman’s Impact, Inc. In 2016, she was chosen to be a part of the Sisters of Charity Leadership Forum and is a member of Malone University’s President’s Advisory Council. In 2012, she was honored to be named one of the Twenty Under 40 and in 2018 was inducted to the YWCA of Stark County’s Women’s Hall of Fame.

Canton Symphony Orchestra knows the need for change within the orchestral community. The tradition of classical music has ignored many communities that have contributed to the development and canon of repertoire played in the concert hall. While Canton Symphony is a regional orchestral, change starts at the smallest level. With “Orchestrating Change”, the Canton Symphony Orchestra hopes to facilitate conversations that will make the concert hall a more welcoming place for previously ignored communities as well as create more acceptance and diversity on the stage. In addition to orchestrating change internally, educating audiences to issues surrounding diversity and inclusion will be a priority. Music by Black, Latinx, female, Asian, and LGBTQAI+ musicians and composers has been noticeably absent in the programming produced by established institutions in comparison to those who are white and male. Canton Symphony Orchestra hopes to be a more welcoming community that is reflective of the demographics in Canton, Ohio and the surrounding major metropolitan areas.

Orchestrating Change is available on all platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and PodBean. Patrons who wish to sign-up for email reminders may do so at www.cantonsymphony.org/orchestrating-change. More information, including additional episodes, will be released in our weekly newsletter and social media accounts.

Episode 3 - Exploring Gender, Expanding Music Scholarship with Destinee Siebe

In this episode of Orchestrating Change, we discussed issues of gender, sexuality, and representation through the lens of musicology. Destinee Siebe shared their own journey of self-discovery and how that has impacted their research and view of the history of classical music. How does diverse representation affect a listener? Where has diverse representation been present in music history and ignored and how do we commit to authentic representation in the future of classical music? All that and more, this week on Orchestrating Change.

Destinee N. Siebe (she/her/hers or they/them/theirs) is a student musicologist, set to complete the Historical Musicology M.A. program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in spring 2021. She is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, where she majored in Music History & Literature and studied bassoon with Mr. Jonathan Sherwin. In addition to her work with the Canton Symphony Orchestra this season, she has also been an invited speaker at graduate student conferences in the U.S. and Canada, as well as for events sponsored by the Baldwin Wallace Friends of the Conservatory organization. Her research interests are best described as “all things 20th and 21st century United States,” ranging from feminist archive strategies and understudied women composers, to the 21st century wind ensemble’s responses to tragedies and violence.

Orchestrating Change is available on all platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and PodBean. Patrons who wish to sign-up for email reminders may do so at www.cantonsymphony.org/orchestrating-change. More information, including additional episodes, will be released in our weekly newsletter and social media accounts.

Episode 2 - Transition: The Power of Authenticity with Sara Davis Buechner

In today’s episode, Sara Beuchner takes us through her journey as a transgender woman and shares how her relationship with the orchestral community changed when she decided to transition. She educated us on the intolerance that still exists towards the transgender community and shared how she has navigated that bias and still managed to be an extremely successful concert pianist.

Sara Davis Buechner is one of the leading concert pianists of our time. She has been praised worldwide as a musician of “intelligence, integrity and all-encompassing technical prowess” (New York Times). Japan’s InTune magazine says: “When it comes to clarity, flawless tempo selection, phrasing and precise control of timbre, Buechner has no superior.”

Canton Symphony Orchestra knows the need for change within the orchestral community. The tradition of classical music has ignored many communities that have contributed to the development and canon of repertoire played in the concert hall. While Canton Symphony is a regional orchestral, change starts at the smallest level. With “Orchestrating Change”, the Canton Symphony Orchestra hopes to facilitate conversations that will make the concert hall a more welcoming place for previously ignored communities as well as create more acceptance and diversity on the stage. In addition to orchestrating change internally, educating audiences to issues surrounding diversity and inclusion will be a priority. Music by Black, Latinx, female, Asian, and LGBTQAI+ musicians and composers has been noticeably absent in the programming produced by established institutions in comparison to those who are white and male. Canton Symphony Orchestra hopes to be a more welcoming community that is reflective of the demographics in Canton, Ohio and the surrounding major metropolitan areas.

Orchestrating Change is available on all platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and PodBean. Patrons who wish to sign-up for email reminders may do so at www.cantonsymphony.org/orchestrating-change. More information, including additional episodes, will be released in our weekly newsletter and social media accounts.

Episode 1 - Importance of Perspective with Kelly Corcoran

Today on Orchestrating Change, Kelly Corcoran leads us in a conversation about the perspectives of audiences and musicians in the field of classical music. She pushes us to see a possible future where tradition is honored and the future is embraced by diverse audiences and musicians. How can the field of orchestral music keep relevance in today’s times and how do we engage in music in our everyday lives in a way that will allow us to embrace the future of orchestral music?

Canton Symphony Orchestra knows the need for change within the orchestral community. The tradition of classical music has ignored many communities that have contributed to the development and canon of repertoire played in the concert hall. With “Orchestrating Change”, the Canton Symphony Orchestra hopes to facilitate conversations that will make the concert hall a more welcoming place for previously ignored communities as well as create more acceptance and diversity on the stage.

Named “Best Classical Conductor” in 2015 by the Nashville Scene, Kelly Corcoran is a passionate advocate for the robust place of classical music in our lives and the lives of future generations. Corcoran is Artistic Director of Intersection, a contemporary music ensemble dedicated to redefining the traditional concert experience with concerts for all ages. Corcoran conducted the Nashville Symphony for nine seasons both as Associate Conductor and Director of the Symphony Chorus where she conducted the orchestra in hundreds of performances. Corcoran has appeared as a guest conductor with many major orchestras including The Cleveland Orchestra, the Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, and National Symphonies, often with return engagements. Abroad, Corcoran has appeared with orchestras in Argentina, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Spain, Mexico and Chile. Corcoran has worked with a range of artists such as Bela Fleck, Leslie Odom Jr., Chris Botti and Amy Grant, film scores in concert, and as a regular conductor with The Legend of Zelda and National Geographic’s Symphony for our World tours. Corcoran graduated from the Boston Conservatory (BM) and Indiana University (MM). Her primary mentors are Leonard Slatkin and Marin Alsop. She also focused on contemporary literature with Pierre Boulez at the Lucerne Festival. She’s a proud alum of the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship. Corcoran serves on the music faculty of Middle Tennessee State University and Lipscomb University and is also pursuing a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Alabama Birmingham.

Subsequent episodes will be aired every Friday at 9:00am for 10 weeks. For more information and to sign-up for email reminders, please visit www.cantonsymphony.org/orchestrating-change