Why a New Venue?

As a new blogger for Orchestra Nova, I wanted to start things off with a bang and discuss a very popular question these days: "Why a new venue?"

Moving to the Irwin Jacobs Qualcomm Concert Hall in Sorrento Valley is very exciting and momentous for many reasons.

This is one of most perfect concert halls in the world. If we were to custom design a home for us, we couldn't ask for a more sophisticated and exquisite setting. It was acoustically designed for an ensemble exactly like ours, and it is also one of the most comfortable venues for both the artist and audience.

I remember getting calls from some of our musicians who performed in the hall during its first year, and their reviews were ecstatic. Our expectation is that this high-tech and state-of-the-art facility will become integral to our image as a cutting-edge and hip orchestra for the next generation. You have to see (and hear) it to believe it. All of this, and parking is free!

We're so curious about what you think about this move and about the hall – but you may want to experience Nova in its inaugural season there first. Our first concert is Saturday, September 11. Let us hear from you!

Double Duty for Stella

A most valuable employee – Stella Karl – our administrative assistant takes a turn with the vacuum cleaner.

Season Planning

Planning the 2009-2010 season is well underway. As Artistic Administrator/Production Manager, my job at Orchestra Nova is to coordinate the many different components of the concert experience; from working with the librarian to order the music, to working with our personnel manager to make sure the correct size orchestra is hired, to working with the executive director to create realistic and manageable budgets, and finally to working with Jung-Ho Pak to create exciting production components for each concert, each experience.

So far, we have secured all of the venues for the season and the music is being ordered. Also, the musician contracts have been sent out, as well as those for our many guest artists. The other day I was asked to write an article about four of our players who are celebrating their 20 year anniversaries. There is still much planning that needs to happen and each day brings with it a fresh to-do list and the opportunity to make this upcoming season even better than the previous one.

I love being a production manager. I have an "all-access pass" which allows me to be intimately involved in the creative process from attending rehearsals to working closely with our talented musicians. There is nothing more exciting than the buzz that goes on backstage just before the concert begins and the lights go down and I send Jung-Ho out to begin an evening of magic.

Welcome!

Welcome!

A major focus for Orchestra Nova this season is CONNECTION. A connection between friends, fans, guests, musicians, Maestro Pak, our staff and anyone else interested in becoming part of our network.

This blog is just one of the many ways we’re hoping we can maximize that connection with you. We invite you to join us regularly and to become an active participant through your comments.

You will be reading blogs on a regular basis from me and other staff members as well as from Maestro Jung-Ho Pak and our musicians – some behind-the-scenes information that you won’t hear about from any other source or will hear about first here. So check us out regularly – and let us hear from you.

Our iNOVA Connection is up and running!