The Soundtrack of Savannah

Partnerships Rooted in Growth: Colonial Group, Inc.- Building Business, Family, and Community

The community support for the Savannah Philharmonic has deep roots.
Welcome to the Soundtrack of Savannah Podcast - brought to you by the Savannah Philharmonic. On this episode, we're going all the way back to 1921 when Raymond M. Demere founded American Oil Company, Savannah’s first independent wholesale petroleum company. A business that began with a barrel of oil has evolved into a successful family of companies known as Colonial Group, Inc.
Bob Kenyon, the COO and president of Colonial Oil Industries Inc., is joining us on this episode along with the Savannah Philharmonic's Executive Director Amy Williams. 
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Learn more about Colonial Group, Inc.
2024-2025 Season Concerts
Learn more about Opportunities to Support The SavPhil
Learn more about the SavPhil Community Music School
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media

That's a wrap! Music, Fun, and Hope PHIL-LED the Park Again!

Welcome to the "Soundtrack of Savannah" Podcast! It's only been a few days since we "PHIL-LED" the Park with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus - and a full roster of talented artists and musicians. Parker’s Kitchen presents “Phil the Park” in partnership with the city of Savannah, and WJCL 22.
Executive Director Amy Williams sits down with us to recap this amazing, star-studded and inspiring event. We have a special treat for you in this episode too! You will hear clips from this year's Phil the Park recorded live, on-location at Forsyth Park. 
The largest free outdoor cultural event in Savannah did NOT disappoint!
SEE MORE COVERAGE OF PHIL THE PARK in the links below:
WJCL sits down with Renowned Violinist Hanami Froom
WJCL's Recap of Phil the Park
Learn more about Parker's Kitchen
2024-2025 Season Concerts
Learn more about Opportunities to Support The SavPhil
Learn more about the SavPhil Community Music School
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media

Sweeter than Parker's Kitchen Sweet Tea! Savannah Legend Greg Parker to help us PHIL the Park

Welcome to the "Soundtrack of Savannah" Podcast! The Founder and CEO of Parker's Kitchen - Greg Parker - joins us to chat about Savannah's largest free outdoor cultural event of the year ... PHIL THE PARK!
Phil the Park is presented by our lead sponsor Parker's Kitchen and it's right around the corner - Saturday, October 5th in Forsyth Park. 
We're excited to sit down with Greg to chat about the secret behind the chicken fingers (of course). BUT for real, we are getting the inside scoop on Parker's Kichen commitment to high-quality food service, incredible customer service and giving back to the community. 
In 1976, when Greg established the first Parker’s store in Midway, Georgia, he was determined to transform the convenience store sector and enhance customer expectations of a convenience store. Over the years, Parker’s Kitchen has evolved from a convenience store company that sells food to a foodservice company that sells convenience.
Greg is dropping all the details on this year's Phil the Park - and is excited to be the lead sponsor that ushers all of this amazing talent to the community. 
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Meet Greg Parker and the Story behind Parker's Kitchen
Learn more about Phil the Park
2024-2025 Season Concerts
Learn more about Opportunities to Support The SavPhil
Learn more about the SavPhil Community Music School
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media

Finding Identity in the Music: An Exploration with Pianist & Composer Eric Jones

Welcome to the "Soundtrack of Savannah" Podcast! We're sitting down with pianist and composer Eric Jones. 
Eric Jones has collaborated with numerous renowned artists like - Grammy Award-winner Esperanza Spalding, Stewart Copeland of The Police, and Keith Miller of the Metropolitan Opera. In 2011, he debuted his work "Songs of Creation," which melds spiritual, jazz, and African elements with James Weldon Johnson's poem "The Creation."
Eric has so much musical knowledge to share - not only with us - but he's also a professor at Savannah State University. Eric discusses launching his first album "Azubuike" in 2019 - as well as his recent collaboration with the Savannah Philharmonic. Details below:
Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 7:30pmThe Lucas Theatre for the ArtsKeitaro Harada conductorDavid Fray piano
PROKOFIEV Classical SymphonyMOZART Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, K.467, “Elvira Madigan”ERIC JONES The Seafarer | Savannah Philharmonic commission!MOZART Symphony No. 35 in D, K.385, “Haffner”
Eric says: “The Seafarer is a music composition that evokes the spirit of oceanic adventure and the vast, untamed sea. With sweeping melodies and rhythmic swells, the piece captures the essence of a seafarer’s journey—both the excitement of exploration and the reflective solitude of life on the open waters."
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Meet Eric Jones
2024-2025 Season Concerts
Learn more about Opportunities to Support The SavPhil
Learn more about the SavPhil Community Music School
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media

The Secrets of a New Season: Featuring Keitaro Harada & Amy Williams

We're kicking off Season 2 of the "Soundtrack of Savannah" Podcast brought to you by the Savannah Philharmonic - so it's fitting that we are also kicking off the 2024-2025 Season concert calendar with Music and Artistic Director Keitaro Harada - and Executive Director Amy Williams for a detailed preview. 
The season opening will be "Romantic Rachmaninoff" Saturday, August 24th at 7:30pm at The Lucas Theatre for the Arts featuring Keitaro Harada conductor and Imani Winds!
Imani Winds is the 2024 GRAMMY® winner in the Classical Compendium category for Jeff Scott’s “Passion for Bach and Coltrane” released on their recently formed record label, Imani Winds Media. Celebrating over a quarter century of music making, the three-time GRAMMY® nominated group has led both a revolution and evolution of the wind quintet through their dynamic playing, adventurous programming, imaginative collaborations and outreach endeavors that have inspired audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
BUT WAIT, there's more! Tap THIS LINK for the full lineup of the new season.
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Meet Keitaro Harada
Meet Amy Williams
Meet Imani Winds
Learn more about Opportunities to Support The SavPhil
Learn more about the SavPhil Community Music School
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media

The Savannah Civic Center, Johnny Mercer Theatre Update: A Thoughtful Approach to Our Past and Our Future

Executive Director Amy Williams joins us on this episode for an amazing update on the Savannah Civic Center site, comprised of the Johnny Mercer Theatre and Martin Luther King Jr. Arena.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said, "This was the best decision we could make at this time. It's probably the most even-handed, thoughtful approach that gives consideration to our past and to our future."
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Upcoming SAVPHIL Concerts
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
Learn more about Education Initiatives with the SAVPHIL
THANK YOU to our SUPPORTERS
Tap here to SUPPORT the SAVPHIL

The Voices are Lifted: Savannah Philharmonic Chorus Camp Strikes a Perfect Note for Community and Connections

We are "on location" for this melodic episode of the Soundtrack of Savannah!
DAY 2 of Chorus Camp is about to get underway, and we are on the edge of our seats in Regina Coeli Hall in the undercroft of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. 
Members of the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus, as well as eager members of the community will be joining us to talk about the magnificent experience of coming together to learn from our chorus master Paul Thornock alongside other teaching staff - Rebecca Flaherty & William Lavonis. 
We're joined on this episode by: 
Dr. Paul Thornock (Chorus Master)
Jim Shields (Bass)
Annette Howell (Alto) 
Brian Dennison (Tenor) 
Becca Flaherty (Vocal Coach, Music Teacher) 
Darren Weaver (Tenor)
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Learn more about the SavPhil Chorus
Upcoming SAVPHIL Concerts
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
Learn more about Education Initiatives with the SAVPHIL
THANK YOU to our SUPPORTERS
Tap here to SUPPORT the SAVPHIL

The Scene is 1924 - Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue at 100 with The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra

"Although his star was rising quickly as a songwriter, Gershwin aspired to compose larger-scale classical compositions. He took this first big step with his Rhapsody in Blue for piano and orchestra. This piece would be part of a program that was billed as “An Experiment in Modern Music,” with the intent to fuse the dance rhythms of jazz with the seriousness of the orchestral concert hall." --David H. Johnson
We're joined on this episode by the dynamic duo - Dr. Sinisa Ciric, Director of Artistic Operations, who is the Concertmaster Emeritus of the Savannah Philharmonic and former concertmaster of Jackson and Rome Symphonies AND Ricardo Ochoa, the Principal Second Violinist of the Savannah Philharmonic. 
Rhapsody in Blue at 100 with The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra is happening Saturday, June 15th at the Lucas Theatre with the SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC, KEITARO HARADA conductor, and THE FABULOUS EQUINOX ORCHESTRA with AARON LEHRIAN piano. 
Program includes Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in its original dance band version, as heard at the 1924 premiere, plus other Gershwin favorites!
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Learn more about The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra
Upcoming SAVPHIL Concerts
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
Learn more about Education Initiatives with the SAVPHIL
THANK YOU to our SUPPORTERS
Tap here to SUPPORT the SAVPHIL

The Mesmerizing Soprano, The Vigorous Gold Medalist: Elizabeth Baldwin Soars into Savannah

American Soprano Elizabeth Baldwin just recently set Savannah hearts on fire after her jaw-dropping, thunderous performance of Verdi Requiem at the Lucas Theatre with the Savannah Philharmonic and the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus.
To say she's a "winner" is a massive understatement. Ms. Baldwin is a 2024 First Place Gold Medalist with the American Traditions Vocal Collection Competition and two-time Sherrill Milnes Opera Award winner (just to mention a few). 
On the concert stage, Ms. Baldwin was heard recently in a recital performing with Howard Watkins at the Savannah VOICE Festival; Verdi’s Requiem with Alabama Symphony Orchestra (a work later covered with the San Diego Symphony); Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Akron Symphony, Sarasota Symphony Orchestra, and Gulf Coast Symphony; Handel’s Messiah with Erie Philharmonic Orchestra; and Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder with Denver Philharmonic Orchestra.
She sits down with us to talk about her performances around the country, her love for Savannah, and her secrets to "nailing the note". 
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Meet Elizabeth Baldwin
Upcoming SAVPHIL Concerts
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
Learn more about Education Initiatives with the SAVPHIL
THANK YOU to our SUPPORTERS
Tap here to SUPPORT the SAVPHIL

The Orchestra Librarian, The Cellist, and The Doctor that came to Savannah

We're so thrilled to sit down and get to know Dr. Leah Dutton, who is the multitalented librarian - and cellist - for the Savannah Philharmonic. Leah talks about her journey from Pennsylvania to Brazil - where by the way - she spent 5 years working as the principal cellist of the Paraíba Symphony Orchestra and completed her Master’s degree at the Federal University of Paraíba. She also recalls the beautiful, drizzly November day she came to Savannah for the first time. 
Leah and her husband have a distinct connection with Dr. Sinisa Ciric, Director of Artistic Operations, and the Concertmaster Emeritus of the Savannah Philharmonic. 
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Meet Leah Dutton
Upcoming SAVPHIL Concerts
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
Learn more about Education Initiatives with the SAVPHIL
THANK YOU to our SUPPORTERS
Tap here to SUPPORT the SAVPHIL