Nearly 54 years ago, during the 1968 dedication ceremonies for the new John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts on Southern’s campus, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) christened the building’s main stage with a performance of Ravel’s Concerto in G for Piano and Orchestra. Fast forward to 2022, and once again, the NHSO is joining forces with Southern, as the two entities announce that the symphony will be in residence at Lyman Center for the 2022-2023 academic year. The residency will include on-campus concerts, classroom visits, hands-on learning experiences, and internships. In addition, discounted tickets will be made available to members of the SCSU community.
The residency advances Southern’s commitment to access as part of its social justice mission, as well as the Symphony’s commitment to performing accessible concerts for diverse audiences, collaborating on- and off-stage with community partners, and infusing educational opportunities into every facet of the organization.
Lyman Center, Southern’s multi-disciplinary performing arts venue, will serve as the Symphony’s main performance venue for the 2022-2023 Season, including the orchestra’s eight-concert “Classics Series.” Opened in 1968, the distinctive 1,500-seat mainstage features a three-quarter “thrust” stage design, placing the audience in an intimate semi-circle around the stage. Other features of Lyman Center include free and easy parking lots, modern facilities, and fast access to surrounding restaurants, highways, and public transportation. Concert dates and repertoire for the 2022-2023 season will be announced later this spring.
The Symphony’s concerts and administration will become a classroom for the university’s brand new Arts Administration and Cultural Advocacy minor. Joel Dodson, one of the minor’s co-coordinators, said,” We’re especially excited about launching this minor in New Haven. More than any other city in Connecticut, New Haven is the right place to experience the variety of careers in the arts. As one of the coordinators of the minors, I’ve loved spending the past year cultivating long-term partnerships and internships with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Arts and Ideas, Yale Libraries and Museums, Long Wharf Theatre, and many others. Often, the most interesting work at arts and cultural organizations is about having a network. We want current and prospective students to know that, at Southern, we’re here to help them create that network, no matter their background — whether they’ve just discovered a passion for theatre or libraries, or they’re the first in their family to attend college.”
Through the residency, students will have access to internships with the orchestra, and classes will engage in hands-on learning experiences in arts administration and non-profit management. The residency also will offer students of varying majors opportunities to engage with the Symphony through multi-disciplinary lectures and on-campus events.
SCSU President Joe Bertolino said, “I am delighted to welcome the New Haven Symphony Orchestra to our campus once again. With this partnership, both Southern and NHSO will enjoy new opportunities for educational and cultural enrichment, amplifying the university’s commitment to access as a key facet of its social justice mission.”
NHSO Music Director Alasdair Neale agreed. “The Symphony and the University have a shared commitment to access and excellence in equal measure, and we are excited by the opportunities that this residency will offer the orchestra, SCSU students, and the broader New Haven community.”
Audiences who are interested in hearing the Symphony in action at the Lyman Center can get a preview of the residency at two concerts being performed on campus this month. On Friday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m., the orchestra will perform Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” and music from the opera “The Snowy Day” written by NHSO Composer-in-Residence Joel Thompson. On Sunday, March 27 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., the orchestra will perform free “Young People’s Concerts,” a dynamic introduction to the orchestra designed for kids. Tickets and information can be found at NewHavenSymphony.org or by calling (203) 787-4282.
About the New Haven Symphony Orchestra
The fourth-oldest orchestra in America, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s exceptional and accessible performances and education programs reach more than 40,000 audience members and 20,000 students each year. Innovative programming and a dedication to the commission of new works inspires deeper audience engagement and meaningful artistic and educational collaborations. Through the nationally acclaimed Harmony Fellowship program, as well as numerous award-winning education and community engagement programs, the Symphony strives to be a leader for racial equity in the arts. To learn more about the NHSO, visit NewHavenSymphony.org.
