By Melissa Jones—
MUNCIE, Ind.— Muncie Symphony Orchestra and Marion Philharmonic Orchestra have joined forces as Orchestra Indiana, Scott Watkins announced during a press conference on March 1.
“Music is a unifying power. It unifies people and gathers people together into a shared experience,” Watkins said during the announcement event. “One thing we wanted to do is share that—gather more people together, go into new communities and new neighborhoods, and unify people, share that music with people in other communities.”
Watkins, executive director of Muncie Symphony, said he and his board began thinking, “What if we shared a conductor? What if we shared the music together? What if we shared our staff, our resources, shared our musicians together and shared programs?”
This led to conversations with the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, including MPO’s board president LaRea Slater and board member Bill Reece, who happened to have “extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions,” Watkins said.
“We had a meeting and a really good discussion about pulling the two orchestras together,” Reece said. “And Scott talked a lot about the unifying power of music, and through unity comes strength. And if ever there’s a time that we need strength in the arts, it’s today.”
Orchestra Indiana will operate as an umbrella organization for regional orchestras. Groups within Orchestra Indiana will be able to share programming, streamline marketing processes and share leadership. The model helps the orchestras to be more operationally sustainable and allows for more ticket revenue and donations to directly impact the orchestra in ways audiences will see firsthand: new programming, enhanced quality of sound, and performances in new hometowns and venues.
“We’re an umbrella organization that can share those resources with many different orchestras. We have that expansion opportunity, but we’re starting together as Marion and Muncie,” Watkins said. “And together, we can unify the people through the power of music, and that’s the greatest thing ever.”
Watkins will serve as executive director for Orchestra Indiana with a single, combined board governing the organization. The board will have representation from both the Muncie and Marion boards.
Reece explained one of the things he learned through his experience with mergers and acquisitions is the importance of having the right leadership team.
“We have an amazing executive team, an amazing artistic director, a strong board of directors. We can create something that really transcends just Marion and Muncie,” Reece said. “This is an opportunity to create an organization that’s really going to take orchestra music and blow it up throughout the state.”
Both the Marion and Muncie communities can expect more concert choices in more places, similar to MSO’s Beatles concert in downtown Muncie last June and the patriotic concert with fireworks at Yorktown’s Fourth of July celebration.
Orchestra Indiana’s premiere season will begin in September and will feature six concerts, including a tribute to Nat King Cole and his daughter Natalie Cole, music from the “golden age of Hollywood,” a program featuring three Broadway performers who all starred as the leading role in “Phantom of the Opera,” and more. Additional community concerts are yet to be announced.
“I think that this new venture with Orchestra Indiana will allow us the opportunity to reach audiences that we would never have been able to reach before, in addition to keeping the rich histories of both orchestras intact and utilizing the wonderful musicians at both orchestras that have contributed for decades their talents,” said Matthew Kraemer, artistic advisor for the orchestra. “I certainly do see the potential for us reaching deeper into the communities we serve to enrich, educate and to entertain.”
Steve Slavin, president of the MSO board, said it seemed like a “no-brainer” to the teams that Orchestra Indiana was the way forward.
“It’s an exciting moment in time,” Slavin said. “There’s so much opportunity for us that lies ahead.”
Muncie Symphony and Marion Philharmonic each bring a rich heritage to East Central Indiana, with Marion Philharmonic finishing its 52nd season and Muncie Symphony touting more than 70 years of entertainment.
Learn more about Orchestra Indiana and view the full season lineup at OrchestraIndiana.com. To reserve a season subscription, call 765-216-0970.
Check out the new season overview here.
