'We can't stop': Cape Symphony's Ireland concert part of plan to 'keep moving' with live music

Update on Jan. 28 from Cape Symphony: Due to the anticipated severity of the approaching storm and the likelihood of difficulty for our audience and our musicians to safely navigate the roads, the Cape Symphony has decided to postpone both of this weekend’s “Passport to Ireland” concerts to a future weekend later in the 2021/22 season. Tickets for “Passport to Ireland” will be valid for the future dates and ticket holders will be notified of the new schedule as soon as possible. People with questions should contact the Box Office at tickets@capesymphony.org or 508-362-1111.

Programming live events always presents difficulties. But the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic seems like the ultimate obstacle to in-person performances.

“We have to keep challenging ourselves,” says Mike Albaugh, executive director of the Cape Symphony. “It’s exhausting — the last two concerts had to be reprogrammed because of COVID-related issues.

“But we want people to enjoy music live,” he says; “we want them to experience it together.

“We can’t stop — we have to keep moving. We don’t want a collapse — and I mean economically, all the businesses on the Cape. Everyone is working closely together.”

The Cape Symphony weekend program, Saturday and Sunday at the Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center, will continue the orchestra’s annual Passport series. “Passport to Ireland” will bring in fiddler Eileen Ivers and harpist Maeve Gilchrist, along with the Kanaley School of Irish Dance dancers, on stage with the orchestra.

It’s a variety-show concert that will include traditional melodies (“Danny Boy”), along with works by Irish composers Arthur Duff, Hamilton Harty and Seóirse Bodley.

Safety protocols are in place. Concertgoers must be masked — as is the orchestra, with the exception of the winds. Everyone must show proof of vaccination before entering the performing arts center.

“Our patrons who come understand the protocols,” Albaugh says. “Unfortunately, COVID has created a different atmosphere, but people move in fairly well after showing proof of vaccination.”

The orchestra is fully vaccinated. “The musicians are taking this as seriously as anyone else,” he says. “Everyone was vaccinated over the summer, and we are deciding to require boosters as soon as they are eligible.”

Attendance at recent concerts — which in the past have almost always sold out — has been good, but not great. “We had a couple of sell-outs over the holidays,” Albaugh says, “but we’re not anywhere where we would like to be. Nowhere near 2019. A lot of people who would like to come are opting out right now.

“But we’ve budgeted low,” he says. “We’re planning next season and beyond, not only bringing music to our audience (in Hyannis), but thinking of ways to expand that.”

The symphony’s monthly subscription concerts remain in place through May, and plans for additional summer events are still forming. Albaugh mentions potential programs elsewhere in Hyannis, Mashpee, Falmouth and the islands.

“We need to create more opportunities,” he says, “especially in the summer months.”

Innovative programming has been Cape Symphony’s strong point, and music director Jung-Ho Pak’s mix of classics, Pops and contemporary works has been enthusiastically received. “I was blown away by our ticket sales when I came here,” Albaugh says.

But those ideas are changing as well.

“I think our Mayflower program in November was a great response,” Albaugh says. He’s referring to the Mayflower 400th anniversary concert, which included works commemorating that anniversary, as well as a new composition focused on Wampanoag history, and a tribute to the late Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died in 2019 after Colorado police restrained him with a since-banned chokehold.

“It was a powerful statement,” Albaugh says of the programming, “a response to the times.”

“Jung-Ho spends a lot of time curating a show, down to the last minute,” Albaugh says. “We have to have classics, but this is a time to re-think what we can do differently. This is not a stuffy orchestra, and never has been.”

Symphony classes returning

In addition, Cape Symphony will hold its spring semester of classes for adults and youth — with health and safety measures in place — Jan. 31to June 18 in West Barnstable and Falmouth. The dance program is moving to the YMCA Cape Cod at 2245 Iyannough Road next to the Symphony campus. Other classes include playing piano, violin and other musical instruments, in person or virtually.

The Cape Symphony Youth Orchestra is accepting new student auditions, preferably before the first rehearsal on Feb. 12. There is also, for age 18 and up, the Seaside String Ensemble and the Flute Choir. Information: capesymphony.org/education/classes; questions: Megan Theodore at 508-362-2772 or mtheodore@capesymphony.org.

Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll contributed material to this story.

'Passport to Ireland' concerts

What: Cape Symphony

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday

Where: Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center, 744 W. Main St., Hyannis

Tickets and information: capesymphony.org or 508-362-1111

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Symphony Ireland concert is plan to 'keep moving' with live music