OKC Philharmonic director: We are your orchestra; you are our family
About five years ago, I accepted the job of music director for the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. When I told my family we were leaving Winnipeg and moving to Oklahoma, they were not quite sure what to expect.
My oldest son, Jack, replied: “But Dad, they have tornadoes there!”
Tornadoes aside, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
The OKCPHIL has a stellar reputation in the orchestra world, and I knew I had large shoes to fill following Founder and Music Director Emeritus Joel Levine.
But you welcomed me and my family, and made us feel at home.
Then COVID-19 happened.
As we move cautiously into a post-pandemic world, I want to personally thank you, Oklahoma City, for sticking with us. We are your orchestra; you are our family.
Orchestral performances are miraculous. Nowhere else do you have 80 individuals perform in absolute synchronicity creating together a piece of art. The orchestra itself is the most powerful and creative tool for an artist. Like a painter’s brush. Just that it’s 80 brushes.
Our musicians live in the metro area and play an integral part in the city’s musical life, teaching and training new generations. They have trained since they were young children, and now are like world-class athletes performing in unison.
OKCPHIL is actively involved in our community, working with schools that bring children into the world of music. Last spring, we hosted a series of free lunchtime concerts. What a delight to see those young faces as they marveled at the grandeur of the Civic Center Music Hall and the musicians on stage.
For the community at large, we regularly host free events like our concerts at Scissortail Park. In fact, our next free Scissortail concert is Sept. 23!
So, if you are a regular patron, we thank you. If you haven’t been to one of our concerts for a while, please come back. And if you haven’t yet experienced all your OKCPHIL has to offer, what a time you will have!
Get dressed up, have a nice dinner, then come experience the full blast of the 80 musicians in front of you. From the sound of those 80 instruments to the actual emotions of the musicians and the music. That’s what we do. And it is awesome.
Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate is the music director for Oklahoma City Philharmonic.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Philharmonic director: We are your orchestra; you are our family
