By Laurie W. Anderson
As the Scottsdale Philharmonic prepares for its 2018 season, the orchestra was nominated for the 2018 Governor’s Arts Awards for a third straight year. The honor is in recognition of The Scottsdale Philharmonic’s substantial and outstanding contributions to arts and culture statewide.
The group was nominated in the Community category which recognizes an organization that has demonstrated significant support or participation in activities that foster excellence in, appreciation of, or access to arts in the State of Arizona.
The Scottsdale Philharmonic started presenting its free concerts to the community in 2012. Partway through its second season, the group outgrew its venue and moved to the Scottsdale Bible Church auditorium for its third season. Attendance for each concert has now grown to nearly 2,000 people.
“Our mission is to bring classical music to people of all ages in the community,” said Joy Partridge, president of the Scottsdale Philharmonic. For over 30 years, Partridge has performed as a violist in various Valley orchestras and continues her performing tradition with the Scottsdale Philharmonic in addition to handling the business and financial side of the nonprofit organization.
Joy Partridge co-founded the Philharmonic with music director Carl Reiter. In addition to performing in the symphony’s first violin section, Reiter is responsible for all the behind the scenes musical preparations for the concert seasons, auditions for musicians, establishing the program of music for each season, identifying and negotiating with concert soloists, obtaining music, and managing all licensing commitments.
“We’re honored to again be nominated for this award,” Partridge said. “We have over 120 volunteers, which includes 75 professional musicians, dedicated board members, and enthusiastic volunteers who share their time and talent for each of our concerts.”
“The community has embraced its symphonic orchestra and has demonstrated a love for classical music,” Partridge added. “We’ve proven that the Scottsdale Philharmonic brings cultural value to Scottsdale and the surrounding communities.”
Arizona Citizens for the Arts, in partnership with the Governor’s Office, will announce three finalists in each category on February 6 with the winners presented at a gala dinner event on March 22. For more information, visit azcitizensforthearts.org.
2018 Free Concert Series
Concert Dates for the Scottsdale Philharmonic’s free concerts in 2018 include February 18, April 15, May 20, October 14 and November 18. Sign up for email notifications of all the free concerts at ScottsdalePhilharmonic.com. For a $15.00 tax-deductible donation, attendees can have a VIP preferred seat, payable on the website. Doors open at 3:00 p.m. for each concert and free parking is available at the Scottsdale Bible Church, 7601 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale.
“Our concerts are a perfect opportunity for families to begin enjoying classical music together,” explained Partridge. “They’re held on Sunday afternoons, suggested dress is casual, and the auditorium of Scottsdale Bible Church offers great views from every seat.”
Composers and pieces to be performed by the Philharmonic on Feb. 18 include:
- Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue, with Walter Cosand, Solo Pianist
- Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf
- Dvorak, The Golden Spinning Wheel
About the Scottsdale Philharmonic
Founded in 2012, the Scottsdale Philharmonic is a nonprofit organization with a mission statement to bring free classical concerts to the community. The organization is funded by donations from patrons, grants and sponsors. More than 75 professional musicians continue to volunteer their time and talent for each of the performances. For more information, visit scottsdalephilharmonic.com or call 480-951-6077.
Laurie is the co-owner of Cactus Creative PR and Marketing. The firm builds compelling marketing tools that help businesses connect with their audiences. For more information, visit cactuscreative.net.
