NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT) -- The Nashville Symphony will begin single ticket sales Friday for more than 100 performances during its upcoming season, but only about half of those programs include classical music offerings.
The orchestra will also play dozens of other dates backing pop artists like Frank Valli, the country group Alabama, and jazz artist Michael Feinstein.
In addition, the Schermerhorn will continue to screen popular movies with the orchestra playing the film’s score live, including The Wizard of Oz and Indiana Jones.
Symphony president Alan Valentine says the economic downturn and damage done by the 2010 floods forced the organization to look for new sources of revenue. But he believes the fuller calendar does have benefits.
“It’s true that the more an orchestra plays together the better it gets. I think all those things (non-classical performances) contribute ultimately to the orchestra’s long term success. If you’ve been to a concert, all you have to do is listen and tell that the orchestra just keeps getting better and better.”
Valentine also notes that the orchestra fills about 80 percent of the available seats for each classical concert and attendance continues to rise. He says that stands in sharp contrast to declining symphony attendance in most cities nationwide.