The Soundtrack of Savannah

The Savannah Civic Center, The Johnny Mercer Theatre: The History is Forever, The Future is Now

We're having a wonderful meeting of the "Executive Director Minds" with Executive Director from the Savannah Philharmonic - Amy Williams, and Executive Director of the Savannah Music Festival - Gene Dobbs Bradford. 
The question we are asking ourselves is - where will we grow? It's truly time to "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive"!
From the City of Savannah: In February 2022, Savannah opened the state-of-the-art Enmarket Arena on Stiles Avenue, just west of downtown and east of Historic Carver Village. In anticipation of that historic milestone, the City has been developing a plan for the 50-year-old Savannah Civic Center, comprised of the Martin Luther King Jr. Arena and Johnny Mercer Theater, which sit on nearly 8 acres in Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District. 
In 1972, the City of Savannah completed the construction of the Savannah Civic Center on the site of the former Municipal Auditorium.  The facility currently encompasses a 7.0-acre site—the equivalent of 10 city blocks—and includes the 9,700-seat Martin Luther King, Jr. Arena, 2,500-seat Johnny Mercer Theatre, ballrooms, several multi-purpose rooms used for several municipal and community purposes, and two levels of lobby space. 
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Civic Center Restoration Plan Petition
Pictures & Video for this historic restoration project
Meet Gene Dobbs Bradford
The Savannah Music Festival | March 28 - April 13, 2024
Meet the Savannah Philharmonic Staff
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 Energy, The Dynamics, The Conductor: It's Electric!

We're sitting down with the undeniably dynamic - Music and Artistic Director of the Savannah Philharmonic - Keitaro Harada. 
Conductor Kei is taking us behind the scenes of mapping out the seasons at the SavPhil by giving us a glimpse into building the experiences that can only be had in Savannah, with the Savannah Philharmonic. 
Keitaro has transformed the quality of the orchestra and energized its audiences throughout the community with his imaginative programs and charismatic presence. He's the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award and is consistently providing riveting concerts and opera performances in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. 
The Savannah Philharmonic 2024-2025 Season has been announced - and the lineup is amazing! See the full lineup HERE.
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Meet Keitaro Harada
Meet the Savannah Philharmonic Staff
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 Linking of Senses with Composer Jessica French

Award-winning composer Jessica French joins us on this episode of the "Soundtrack of Savannah". Jessica calls Seattle home, but she's very excited to be in Savannah (for the first time) on March 2nd for the Lord Nelson Mass concert at Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus Fine Arts Auditorium with the Savannah Philharmonic and the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus. 
Jessica's works have been commissioned and performed by various ensembles including the St. Olaf Cantorei, Massed Choirs and Orchestra; Ember Choral Arts, the Madeleine Choir School and Cathedral Chamber Orchestra, Te Deum, Seattle Pro Musica, Northwest Boychoir, Northwest Girlchoir, Seattle Girls Choir, Pacific Lutheran University Chorale, Choral Arts Northwest, and Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble. Audience members on March 2nd at Lord Nelson Mass will receive a tremendous treat from the direction of Conductor and Chorus Master Paul Thornock, as the SavPhil and SavPhil Chorus showcases three of Jessica's pieces. 
Jessica talks about the rare ability she has called synesthesia, in which various senses are linked to one another, mainly in the form of colors associated with notes, timbres, and words. This ability lends a unique voice to her compositional style, which has been described as having “lyrical, sweeping lines…deeply impassioned…atmospheric…shimmering harmonies.”
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Meet Jessica French
Meet the Savannah Philharmonic Staff
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 Formula for Success: Arts Access to ALL

The Savannah Philharmonic continues to build programming which strives to provide all students in every neighborhood with equitable access to high quality music education. 
We're sitting down with Kimberly Achenbach, the Performing Arts Specialist for the Savannah - Chatham County Public School System to discuss student-access to the arts and music education.
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Kimberly Achenbach on LinkedIn
Meet the Savannah Philharmonic Staff
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 Savannah Secret: It's the People - and the Coffey

Welcome to the Soundtrack of Savannah Podcast! We continue to go behind-the-scenes with the Savannah Philharmonic. This time, we are sitting down with the SavPhil's Director of External Relations, the phenomenal Jamie Coffey. 
We talk about some of the history of the Savannah Philharmonic and how important the evolving relationships are with each community here.  When it comes to the team behind the orchestra and chorus, Jamie says - "Everybody on the team brings their own joy, their own connection to music, their own connection to Savannah and their own connection to the arts - so that's part of the soup that is really working well.".
Over the past 15 years, Jamie has built her career working with incredible organizations and institutions such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Barnard College/Columbia University, Ringling College of Art and Design, and Field Arts and Events Hall. Her passion lies in fostering a strong sense of community and creating access to the arts for all.
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Meet the Savannah Philharmonic Staff
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 Life Lessons of Music Education: Learning how to ”speak and listen” the Language of Music

When you sit down with a dedicated music lover, expert violinist, and master educator - you soak up all the knowledge you can! That's exactly what I did when I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Sinisa Ciric. Sinisa is the Director of Artistic Operations and the Concertmaster Emeritus of the Savannah Philharmonic. 
Sinisa talks about his upbringing in Serbia, his background in music and one of the most influential teachers he had. He describes his moment of change during COVID that led him to the Savannah Philharmonic. He also talks about the importance of the connection between the musicians and the administration. 
This episode dives into the relationships and collaborations the SavPhil has with other artists in Savannah, other organizations, and iconic venues. 
IMPORTANT LINKS & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:
Meet Sinisa Ciric
Meet the Savannah Philharmonic Staff
Upcoming SAVPHIL Concerts
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
Learn more about Education Initiatives with the SAVPHIL
Tap here to SUPPORT the SAVPHIL

The Opportunity to Preserve Savannah’s World-Class History and Memories

The Savannah Philharmonic is dedicated to ensuring that everyone across the Savannah region is able to access and enjoy the performing arts. An integral part of achieving this goal is making sure that our community has a purpose-built, state of-the-art performance hall that will showcase the full range of performing arts for current and future generations of Savannahians. In this episode you will learn that Savannah once had such a space! 
Listen in on this important conversation around the fate of the Johnny Mercer Theatre and the plan for preservation and restoration. Our guests for this episode are Savannah Philharmonic's Executive Director Amy Williams - and the President of Corcoran Austin Hill Realty, Chairman of the Board for the Historic Savannah Foundation, and seventh generation Savannahian - Austin Hill. 
Amy discusses the magnificent opportunity for the Savannah Philharmonic to grow at the same rate Savannah is growing - so they can continue to be something for everyone. 
Austin says, "the city is growing rapidly - and we are attracting an incredible amount of people who are supporting the Philharmonic, and the arts. We can't afford to go a decade, or whatever it would take, without a space like this. It's the only venue that has this capacity - and we desperately need it."
The City of Savannah is actively working on a plan to present the project to the community, and while we do not know the exact cost of this meaningful historic preservation and restoration project, the first step is to commission a feasibility study that will define the parameters of the larger program. This feasibility study will outline the requirements for creating a hall that delivers to the standards we at the Savannah Philharmonic support.
Please share this episode and join us by writing to your alderman to share your interest in having this study completed on all this incredible space could be. 
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
Executive Director, Dr. Amy Williams
Austin Hill
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
Tap here to provide support for YOUR Savannah Philharmonic

The Love Story between Music and Community

Amy Williams, Executive Director of The Savannah Philharmonic, is back on this episode to shine a light on the love story between the Savannah Philharmonic and the community in which it lives. Savannah continues to show up and support the SavPhil with every event, concert, and educational opportunity. 
Many people are surprised to learn that the Savannah Philharmonic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - that relies on community support through ticket sales as well as individual donations and sponsor partnerships. In this episode, Amy also talks about one of the Savannah Philharmonic's main missions - to ensure that every child has an opportunity to play an instrument, free of charge. 
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
Executive Director Amy Williams
Proudly Hosted and Produced by Dee Daniels Media
Supporting the Savannah Philharmonic:
Details on the Annual Fund
Community Partners and Sponsors
Information on Planned Giving
Volunteer with the SavPhil
Upcoming concert and ticket information:
See the list of upcoming concerts

The Radiant, Red-Socks-Wearing Ricardo ... on the Roof!

Personality is front and center AND side-to-side with our guest on this episode of The Soundtrack of Savannah. Ricardo Ochoa, Principal Second Violinist for The Savannah Philharmonic is here to chat about his experience in watching the performing arts scene grow in Savannah - and of course his well-known red socks. He's also so excited to talk about the upcoming Holiday Stories of Savannah concert on December 16th at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts - where he will be hosting and performing alongside some of the area's most talented musicians and storytellers. 
Upcoming concert and ticket information:
HANDEL’S MESSIAH Saturday, December 2, 2023 I 7:00pm Calvary Baptist Temple
HOLIDAY STORIES OF SAVANNAH! Saturday, December, 16 2023 I 3:00pm Matinee Saturday, December, 16 2023 I 7:30pm (Sold Out) Lucas Theatre for the Arts
 
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
The SavPhil Orchestra
Proudly Hosted and Produced by Dee Daniels Media
Supporting the Savannah Philharmonic:
Details on Donation Opportunities
Volunteer with the SavPhil
Tap here to Become a Community Partner or Sponsor
 

The Delightful Designer - Never a Bored Moment and Now a Board Member

Chuck Chewning, Interior Designer, and owner of Courtyard by Chuck Chewning is proudly on the board of the Savannah Philharmonic. Chuck is sitting down with us to talk about the importance of being an ambassador for not only the SavPhil, but also for the people and stories of Savannah. With more than thirty-five years of experience in luxury residential, hospitality, and preservation interior design – Chuck is a master storyteller himself. So, it’s no wonder he so eloquently paints the perfect picture of a thriving Savannah arts scene where the talents of the Savannah Philharmonic truly shine.
Upcoming concert and ticket information:
THE FOUR SEASONS Saturday, November 18, 2023 I 7:30pm Lucas Theatre for the Arts
HANDEL’S MESSIAH Saturday, December 2, 2023 I 7:00pm Calvary Baptist Temple
 
HOLIDAY STORIES OF SAVANNAH! Saturday, December, 16 2023 I 3:00pm Matinee Saturday, December, 16 2023 I 7:30pm (Sold Out) Lucas Theatre for the Arts
 
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
Chuck Chewning
Courtyard by Chuck Chewning
Proudly Hosted and Produced by Dee Daniels Media
Supporting the Savannah Philharmonic:
Details on Donation Opportunities
Volunteer with the SavPhil
Tap here to Become a Community Partner or Sponsor