Fearless Journeys: Innovation in Five American Orchestras is the first formal attempt to identify organizational factors that support innovation in the orchestra world. It provides information that is of a high value to orchestra managers, board members, and donors. The report is the result of an in-depth study of five leading American orchestras. Researchers used a variety of tools to collect and document the information gleaned, including a survey, interviews, and focus groups with representatives of the orchestras. They gathered a plethora of data on the various innovative initiatives being pursued by the leading edge. A few of the more notable achievements were documented in the report.
As an organization that produces hundreds of concerts and annual events each year, the Pacific Symphony is a veritable force to be reckoned with. In addition to being one of the most highly recognized orchestras in the country, it has also been lauded for its community engagement efforts. This includes producing the largest annual Lunar New Year festival in North America, conducting annual programs for ethnic and multicultural communities in Orange County, and creating youth wind and string ensembles. These endeavors, combined with the orchestra’s impressive programming credentials, have earned the company two prestigious ASCAP awards for its adventurous programming.
However, it was the organization’s commitment to promoting diversity that truly impressed. The organization is one of the few in the nation to make a conscious effort to serve a more diverse demographic. For example, the Symphony has an active program to bring adult amateur musicians together for a collaborative performance called OC Can You Play With US. Additionally, the orchestra is a member of the Aspen Leadership Group, which is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 2003 to support organizations that are doing similar things.
Another notable accomplishment of the Pacific Symphony is its impressive Class Act elementary school education program. Designed to engage students in the arts, this initiative has received praise from the National Endowment for the Arts and the California State University system. Unlike other such programs, the Pacific Symphony’s goal is to inspire students to become engaged and inspired, to be the best that they can be.
Other noteworthy accomplishments include its illustrious partnership with the city of Anaheim, a new home for the Symphony at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, and the award-winning music school at the Irvine Museum of Art. Overall, the Pacific Symphony has the distinction of being one of the most innovative of its kind in the country. Moreover, its efforts in the name of the gods have been recognized by the state and federal governments, as well as a variety of other industry associations.
Lastly, the Pacific Symphony has the distinction of being the only orchestra in the United States to have earned the prestigious acclaim of being the world’s first to produce a music CD. Furthermore, the orchestra’s efforts to provide services to disadvantaged communities have been recognized in a variety of industry awards.
