One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.The Fort Wayne Philharmonic announced a new initiative Wednesday that will bring classical music into seemingly surprising places.
It’s called “Random Acts of Music” and it starts with “A Day of Music” on Jan. 14.
Ensembles from the orchestra will perform free miniconcerts on that day at the Allen County Courthouse, St. Joseph Hospital, Parkview Hospital, Glenbrook Square, the City-County Building, IPFW’s Kettler Hall and the main branch of the Allen County Public Library.
It starts at 11 a.m.
After “A Day of Music,” the initiative will continue indefinitely, with ensembles performing wherever such performances are requested.
During a news conference at the City-County Building on Wednesday, J.L. Nave, Fort Wayne Philharmonic president and CEO, said the goal is to broaden awareness of the orchestra.
“The community thinks of the orchestra in terms of concerts performed in local performance halls,” he said. “They are not used to hearing it at the City-County Building or the airport or inside a Kroger’s. But what we want to impress upon people is that classical music is a joy that can impact everyday lives.”
A cellist performed before the news conference, and Nave said the music seemed to brighten the outlook of people who’d come to the City-County Building to accomplish mundane tasks.
“People were coming in to pay their utility bills and they didn’t look too happy,” he said. “You could tell (the music) transformed their day.”
Anyone can contact the Philharmonic to nominate a business or a structure as a possible site for a future concert, Nave said.
“There’s no quota and no deadline,” he said. “We want as much of the community to participate in this as possible.”
For more information about the “Day of Music” or the “Random Acts of Music” initiative, go to www.fortwaynephilharmonic.com.
Performance sites can be suggested by calling 481-0770.
