Stamford Symphony Orchestra Inc

THE MISSION OF ORCHESTRA LUMOS IS TO BRING THE TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT OF GREAT MUSIC TO OUR AUDIENCE THROUGH PASSIONATE, PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER, DIVERSE AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, AND INSPIRING EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES. THE ORCHESTRA PRESENTS A

WHILE THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED TO PRESENT OBSTACLES DURING THE 2021-22 SEASON, THE ORCHESTRA RETURNED TO LIVE PERFORMANCE WITH CONCERNTS AT STAMFORDS PALACE THEATRE AND IN COMMUNITY VENUES IN STAMFORD AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES INCLUDING THE FISH CHURCH IN STAMFORD, THE STAMFORD MUSEUM AND NATURE CENTER, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW CANAAN, WESTPORT LIBRARY, AND STAMFORD LIBRARY. THE FIRST SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT SINCE THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN IN MARCH, 2020 TOOK PLACE AT THE PALACE THEATRE IN NOVEMBER, WHEN THE ORCHESTRA PRESENTED FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE, WHICH INCLUDED A WORK BY AFRICAN AMERICAN COMPOSER XAVIER FOLEY MARKING THE 400 YEARS OF SLAVERY WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE SLAVE SHIP, WHITE LION IN JAMESTOWN. THE SUBSCRIPTION SEASON INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL SEVEN CONCERTS AT THE PALACE THEATRE FEATURING SPECIAL GUESTS SUCH AS VINCE GIORDANO AND THE NIGHTHAWKS, THE YOUNG CELLIST NICHOLAS CANELLAKIS, AND WORLD-RENOWNED VIOLINIST PINCHAS ZUKERMAN. THE FINAL CONCERT OF THE SEASON IN MAY INCLUDED A PERFORMANCE OF PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION, THE LARGEST WORK THE ORCHESTRA HAS EVER PERFORMED. THE ORCHESTRA PRESENTED TWO CONCERTS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON-THE ONLINE PREMIERE OF AN EVENING OF KLEZMER, WHICH FEATURED MUSIC AND CONVERSATIONS WITH ORCHESTRA AND CLEZMER MUSICIANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD - INCLUDING GRAMMY AWARD-WINNER BRANFORD MARSALIS - AND THE RETURN OF OUR POPULAR HOLIDAY BRASS CONCERTS AT STAMFORD TOWN CENTER

ORCHESTRA LUMOS IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO OFFERING A BROAD RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAMS. OUR MUSIC EDUCATION ACTIVITITES ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE, APPRECIATE, PERFORM, AND CREATE MUSIC. FREE CONCERTS IN COMMUNITY VENUES ENABLE US TO REACH A BROAD AND DIVERSE CROSS-SECTION OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY RESIDENTS. THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR WORK IN EDUCATION DURING THE 2021-22 SEASON WAS THE LAUNCH OF A NEW FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE REACH OF OUR EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, WITH A GOAL OF REACHING A BROADER AND MORE DIVERSE CROSS-SECTION OF OUR COMMUNITYS YOUTH. DESPITE THE CONTINUING IMPACT OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, WE WERE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST ACTIVITIES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN BY DEVELOPING SEVERAL NEW PARTNERSHIPS, EXPANDING OUR WORK WITH CURRENT PARTNERS, AND FINDING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR DEALING WITH LIMITATIONS ON IN-PERSON GATHERINGS IN BOTH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES DURING 2021-22 SEASON INCLUDED: PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPSOUR COLLABORATIONS WITH STAMFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS REMAINS STRONG, AND WE ALSO DEVELOPED NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY. SINCE WE WERE UNABLE TO PRESENT IN-PERSON EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, WE CREATED AN INTERACTIVE VIDEO INTRODUCING THIRD GRADE STUDENTS TO JAZZ, SHARED WITH ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY AND REACHING OVER 3,000 STUDENTS. WE OFFERED INSTRUMENTAL BOOTCAMPS IN DARIEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, PRESENTED BY ORCHESTRA LUMOS MUSICIANS, TO HELP INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS WITH THEIR SKILLS AND TECHNIQUE. WE PRESENTED THE SECOND SEASON OF THE UNIQUE SERIES, A FOUR-CONCERT SERIES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN STAMFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CONCORDIA CONSERVATORY. YOUTH MUSIC ORGANIZATIONSIN ADDITION TO OUR IN-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, ORCHESTRA LUMOS HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH SEVERAL OF THE YOUTH MUSIC ORGANZIATIONS IN OUR AREA THAT WORK WITH STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES DONT HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS OR ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCES. THESE PARTNERS INCLUDE PROJECT MUSIC, WHOSE MISSION IS TO USE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF MUSIC TO EFFECT POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE FOR THE STUDENTS MOST IN NEED OF ACCESS, OPPORTUNITY, AND INSPIRATION. THIS SEASON, OUR MUSICIANS OFFERED BOTH PRIVATE INSTRUCTION TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND MASTERCLASSES FOR SMALL GROUPS OF BEGINNING AND ADVANCED STUDENTS. THESE ACTIVITIES, ALONG WITH COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO ORCHESTRA LUMOS CONCERTS AT THE PALACE THEATRE REACHED OVER 150 PROJECT MUSIC STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. WE ALSO INAUGURATED A PARTNERSHIP WITH GREATER CONNECTICUT YOUTH ORCHESTRAS (GCTYO) THAT RESULTED IN A BRAND NEW CHAMBER PROGRAM FOR GCTYP STUDENTS. ORCHESTRA LUMOS MUSICIANS SERVED AS COACHES FOR THIS PROGRAM, CREATING FIVE NEW CHAMBER ENSEMBLES AND PREPARING THE YOUNG MUSICIANS FOR PERFORMANCES. WE WERE EXCITED TO WELCOME 25 STUDENTS INTO THE PROGRAM AND PRODUCE TWO CONCERTS ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 200 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. PUBLIC LIBRARIESPUBLIC LIBRARIES WILL BE A KEY PART OF ORCHESTRAS EXPANSION ACROSS FAIRFIELD COUNTY AND WE WERE PROUD TO INTRODUCE A BRAND NEW MUSIC AND STORYTELLING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE. THIS 30 MINUTE CONCERT PAIRS A CHILDRENS BOOK SELECTED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHILDRENS LIBRARIAN ALONG WITH A SOUNDTRACK TO THE BOOK PERFORMED BY ORCHESTRA LUMOS MUSICIANS. FAMILY FRIENDLY CONCERTS AND ACTIVITIESIN ADDITION TO ENGAGING CHILDREN THROUGH IN-SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO OFFERING ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY. THIS SEASON WE WERE DELIGHTED TO RETURN TO STAMFORD TOWN CENTER AND WELCOME FAMILIES TO OUR POPULAR HOLIDAY BRASS PROGRAM IN DECEMBER. IN APRIL, WE PRESENTED A FREE FAMILY CONCERT AT THE CARRIAGE BARN ARTS CENTER IN NEW CANAAN, DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TEN. WE WERE ALSO EXCITED TO BRING BACK MUSIKIDS-OUR PRE-CONCERT PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE-AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS DUE TO COVID-19.