Orchestra Hall Is Empty, But CSO Musicians Are Still Finding Ways to Connect With Audiences

WDCB’s Gary Zidek takes a closer look at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s approach to creating digital content during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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WDCB's Gary Zidek takes a closer look at Chicago Symphony Orchestra's approach to creating digital content during the pandemic.

“We’ve invested a lot of staff, time and resources and re-engineered some of our staff team in order to think about what content would resonate with our audiences and how could we maintain our connection during this time. So, we’ve been working with a core team along with a core group of musicians in the orchestra on brainstorming different types of content that might resonate.” - Ryan Lewis, CSOA VP of sales and marketing, talking about shifting to the creation of digital content during the pandemic.

Ryan Lewis, CSOA VP of sales and marketing

Like orchestras all over the world, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was forced to cancel the rest of its 2019-2020 season as the COVID-19 pandemic ramped up this spring. Orchestra Hall has been dark since mid-March, but that hasn’t stopped the world renowned CSO from sharing music with its many fans.  The CSOA has taken a proactive approach in developing and sharing digital content during the pandemic. One of the keys has been figuring out what type content that people are interested in spending time on.

One of the most popular CSO From Home videos comes from Stephen Williamson, CSO principal clarinet, and his family playing a selection from George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue.

Stephen Williamson, principal clarinet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and his family offer a selection from George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." Before ...

“Since the beginning of the shutdown, it’s become clear that what’s important is for us to keep finding ways to provide music and culture for the city.” - Chicago Symphony Orchestra bassoonist Miles Maner.

Watch one of Maner’s CSO From Home videos below:

To help lift spirits during the current public health crisis, Miles Maner, bassoon and contrabassoon of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, performs the Polonais...

As we all wait for venues like Orchestra Hall to re-open, you can check out all the CSO AT HOME offerings by visiting cso.org/cso-from-home/latest/