Executive director Cary Byrd. Photo by Collin Richie
“Arts organizations cannot stay stagnant,” Cary Byrd says. “They’re either thriving and growing or dying. It’s a misconception that something can stay status quo and be relevant. You must constantly reinvent and come up with ways to engage the people you serve.”
Byrd took this advice from his former boss, Anthony Freud, to heart. When Byrd arrived as the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra executive director last September, the season, staff and marketing materials were already in place.
“I made a commitment to myself and the board that I was not going to come in and say, ‘That’s wrong … no way … stop that,’” he says. “I needed to see what was happening.”
Starting this month, the organization will be in its 67th season. It’s not a nice round number. There is no golden anniversary or special name associated with that number, but it’s Byrd’s first full season in his position.
And it’s going to be huge.
Right off the bat, BRSO will host its first opening night gala Sept. 25. Following that black-tie four-course dinner, pianist Jonathan Biss will perform at the River Center Theatre, kicking off the Masterworks series.
Other season highlights include Grammy-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin on Nov. 19. The show opens the Lamar Chamber series.
Next spring, the orchestra will perform “Pixar in Concert,” which features musical segments from all 14 of the Pixar films.
Throughout the season, all guest performers will connect with the community. Byrd says the acts have agreed to meet with students of all ages. Biss will host a recital at LSU, and cellist Gary Hoffman will host a master class series at the university as well.
Thanks to a huge donation from Irene W. and C. B. Pennington Foundation, Byrd says BRSO has been challenged to match the donation and show a business plan for sustainability.
“It’s an amazing challenge to prove to [the foundation] that we are real, relevant and meaningful to the community,” he says. “We didn’t go berserk. We just said, ‘What if we ratchet everything up one or two notches?’ Let’s put together this season of interesting, diverse group of performers who are willing to go out to the community. Let’s celebrate as many people as possible.”
IN CONCERT
Executive director Cary Byrd wasn’t joking about the size of the upcoming symphony season. Take a look at all the upcoming concerts and get more information here.
Masterworks concerts at the River Center Theatre
• Sept. 25: Pianist Jonathan Biss performs Beethoven’s “Emperor” concerto and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4 in F minor” at 8 p.m. • Oct. 15: Cellist Gary Hoffman performs pieces from Mozart, Elgar and Rachmaninoff at 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 28: Teenage violin prodigy Adé Williams performs Bruch, Mendelssohn and the local premiere of Paul Hayden’s “Clara” at 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 25: The orchestra celebrates Black History Month with trumpeters Brian Shaw and Rex Richardson performing works from William Grant Still, George Gershwin and Stephen Paulus at 7:30 p.m. • April 14: Baton Rouge native and operatic soprano Lisette Oropesa returns home to perform works from Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven at 7:30 p.m.
Lamar Chamber Series (locations TBA)
• Nov. 19: Grammy winning guitarist Sharon Isbin performs pieces from the Baroque era and works up to 20th century compositions at 7:30 p.m. • Jan. 14: Violinist Yevgeny Kutik performs with BRSO pianists Dianne Frazier and Molly Goforth in a pair of piano trios by Shostakovich and Brahms at 7:30 p.m. • Feb. 11: LSU’s own Willis Delony offers a glimpse into the intersection of the classical and jazz genres at 7:30 p.m. • March 31: BRSO’s principal wind quintet presents “Back to Baroque,” which celebrates music of today and its relationship with the origins of secular music, at 7:30 p.m.
All Star Family Pops! at the River Center Theatre
• Dec. 4, Dec. 6: The annual Home for the Holidays concerts return with music director Timothy Muffitt leading a cast of hundreds in a seasonal celebration. • April 23: The music of Pixar films such as Toy StoryandFinding Nemois brought to life in Pixar in Concert at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. • June 11: The orchestra and an unannounced special country artist will perform Southern tunes during the Country Roots concert at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Also this season
• Dec. 11: Enjoy a winter wonderland of holiday songs during the Lamar Holiday Brass at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral. • May 13: The Pennington Great Performers in Concert gala is held at 8 p.m. in the River Center Theatre.