Getting ready for Yo-Yo Ma
By Matthew Heil
What inspires such devotion from fans? His impeccable musicianship, of course; but Yo-Yo Ma is also one of the most approachable musicians of his caliber...able to rib himself with an appearance on Sesame Street, and lend his considerable name recognition to support the arts...take for example www.silkroadproject.org, his own effort to fuel creative collaboration across the globe.
Public Relations & Communications Manager
Few classical artists can match cellist Yo-Yo Ma when it comes to generating a frenzy among his followers. When the Symphony announced Mr. Ma's performance at the beginning of the season, subscribers (who were given first opportunity to buy tickets) phoned in furiously to be a part of the one-night-only concert.
What inspires such devotion from fans? His impeccable musicianship, of course; but Yo-Yo Ma is also one of the most approachable musicians of his caliber...able to rib himself with an appearance on Sesame Street, and lend his considerable name recognition to support the arts...take for example www.silkroadproject.org, his own effort to fuel creative collaboration across the globe. Of course, Yo-Yo Ma's status as an in-demand peformer has its advantages. With days before the concert, and some tickets still available, the Symphony decided to attempt a first: auction off the remaining seats to the concert. The unusual strategy has been a success so far, with two and a half days left in the auctions. You can track the bidding by clicking on the individual auction links here. As a side note, any money paid above and beyond the original ticket price is considered a donation by the Symphony, and goes to support our many educational programs. So it's a good cause, too!
Thank you to all of the attendees who have made this concert such a success! I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, May 22!
7 Comments:
Please consider expanding your audience via advertising to the West Valley, especially Sun City Grand, where residency is now available to those 45 years of age. How about having the bus that stops at Sun City stop also at the Sundome, to pick up young Sun City Granders who don't care to fight the traffic into the city? You are missing an audience by not advertising to those people, as well as to those in Sun City West. We're not all old people, just some who don't want to fight the traffic and construction and who can afford the bus if only we all knew about it through advertising!
Speaking of advertising, is it a secret at to what else the audience attending the Yo Yo Ma concert might be hearing? Why no mention on the website or anywhere else, other than his playing of the Dvorak again. Yes, the last time he played with the Symphony he played the same Dvorak Cello Concerto. Or maybe the time before.
Are my ticket prices going to go up to pay for a bus that is going to drive around the entire Sun City? I think it is pretty nice that the orchestra offers a bus in the first place, I don't know of any other orchestra who does this. Perhaps someone else does. I'd be interested to know.
The website lists the Dvorak and Smetana Ma vlast as the pieces on the program. Am I missing something? Or was this changed after the above comment? (If so, good on ya administration for paying attention to the bloggers!)
One of the advantages of having comment moderation on the blog is that comments dealing with omissions on our website are seen quickly and we can take appropriate action.
With special event concerts such as tonight's Yo-Yo Ma presentation, the other parts of the program are often not in place when the marketing descriptions are written the year (or year and a half) before hand and therefore sometimes don't make it to the website listings. Thank you for the catch!
As for the buses, we will have them running in Sun City again next season for the Saturday Classics as well as the Friday and Sunday Pops. We also have bus service for the Thursday Classics in Carefree and Scottsdale. Bus passes are available for separate purchase through the Box Office - they are not funded by our regular ticket prices.
Brendan Anderson
Web Administrator
The Phoenix Symphony
Thanks for the clarification on the bus and ticketing for the bus. I still think it is neat that the symphony actually organizes this as I know that takes someone's time to make sure it all runs smoothly. Again, I still don't know any other orchestra that takes on this type of offer and am curious if anyone else has had an experience with an arts organization that offers transportation (either free or fee based).
Wow! What a great event! Thanks to all who made it such a success. To my colleagues in the orchestra a great big THANK YOU for playing your hearts out last night. It has been a very busy end of season period but you keep giving to our appreciative audiences and it is a wonderful thing!
At the intermission I met many people who hadn't been to a PSO performance either 1) ever or 2) "not in a long time".
Each of these half dozen people was holding on to ticket brochures as were many others I hadn't had the chance to speak with. One person was a former student of an orchestra member and was looking forward to buying tickets for next season.
This is how it goes in this business... one convert at a time. But once people are interested in us the loyalty shown is astounding.
Off we go into Beethoven's crowning glory, his Missa Solemnis.
Thanks to everyone for making this such a memorable season!
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