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Magic Valley Symphony hosts digital concert

Posted at 5:09 PM, Nov 13, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-13 19:12:16-05

TWIN FALLS — For 61 years, the Magic Valley Symphony has brought residents the opportunity to listen to enriching music. Tonight, they will be continuing that tradition yet in a completely different way. For the first time in the symphony's history, they will be hosting a free, all-digital concert to be livestreamed.

This is only the symphony's second performance since February, with another held back in October. The concert in October was also livstreamed for viewers. However, people were also allowed to attend the show in person, but safety protocols were in place. Many of those involved in the symphony are just happy to be back performing.

"The real fun of playing their instrument is playing in concert with other people. That is in an ensemble where they play a part, other people play another part, and when all the parts sound together, it's glorious," said Ted Hadley, the Director of the symphony.

The symphony coordinated with the College of Southern Idaho to make this concert happen. "The technicians here at the auditorium here have spent hours and hours finding what equipment to buy. Trying out things to make us sound the best that we possibly can," said Hadley.

The stream will be made available through CSI's YouTube page, and the Magic Valley Symphony also has a link on their website.

Not having an audience present wasn't the only change the symphony had to make. They also have to adhere to safety protocols while performing.

CSI music student Katie Hansen, who also plays cello and is a vocal soloist for the symphony, said, "We have to sit farther apart from each other than we're accustomed to, and so that makes hearing and collaborating with each other a little bit of a challenge. We've even had to flip the order that orchestra and symphony members sit in and so people are in different spots than they normally are. It affects the sound a little bit, not terribly, it's just different."

While it may not be an ideal performance for the symphony since there is no audience, many of the members are remaining positive. "With the streaming and the way we're doing it now is we're able to reach a wider audience than we would normally. We were able to stream our last concert, and people shared it with their family, and so we had people from all over the country and several people in other countries that were able to enjoy our performance, which is neat, and we've never been able to do that before," said Hansen.

The concert will last an hour long and begins at 7:30 with streaming starting at 7:15. The setlist for the orchestra is

  • Camille Saint-Saens - Piano Concerto in G Minor 1st Movement with Youth Soloist Lucy Whitney, Piano
  • Charles Gounod - Juliet's Waltz Song with Youth Soloist Katie Hansen, Soprano
  • Johannes Brahms - Variation on a Theme of Haydn
  • Aaron Copland - Variations on a Shaker Melody
  • Gustav Mahler - Adagietto from Symphony No. 5
  • Ludvig van Beethoven - Finale, Symphony No. 7