Community Arts

The performance of Emmanuel was artistically successful in that the additional 36 musicians from the community were high-quality and the number of rehearsals with the entire ensemble was adequate to prepare for the performances. By seating the additional singers among and between the regular Exultate professionals, they were supported in learning the music and blending with the ensemble. After many years of performing a large work with added musicians, we have developed a strong system that works and will continue this process of auditioning and rehearsing the larger group. Dr. Rossin held a demonstration/lecture at each of the three concerts and the feedback from the audience surveys was very positive. We were very pleased with the audience for this event - 518 in attendance. Although we did not increase our attendance over last year we believe that was because of the less popular work of music we were performing and not because of the efforts made to increase the audience size. The Exultate musicians were given complimentary tickets to give only to someone who has never attended an Exultate concert before and of those in attendance, 50 were new as a result of this program. We also had many "under age 30" concertgoers so we believe our reduced ticket price ($5) for that age group has had a positive impact. Audience responses to what they experienced were overwhelmingly and very convincingly positive. They loved the programming and the performance quality as well as the demonstration/lecture before the performance. Members of the Festival Choir and Orchestra were thrilled with their involvement and wished we would have had a fourth performance.