Maestro’s Monthly Blog

More than a decade ago—in 2011—The Discovery Orchestra adopted a set of Core Values. It’s a topic that sounds like it could be boring. Far from it, here is what our values look like.

• Integrity:  in the pursuit of artistic and educational excellence,

financial stewardship,

and relationships

• Transformation:  by improving lives through knowledge and experiences

• Accessibility:  by bringing Discovery Orchestra programs to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities; and breaking down barriers to classical music

• Innovation:  in the use of unique program formats, communication methods, and product distribution

• Inspiration:  in the fostering of emotional responses to and communal enthusiasm for classical music

Below is a gallery of images of people “caught in the act” of listening to classical music—people who made a decision to be completely present with the particular classical music selection at hand. Photographed at our live Discovery Concerts, listening lecture interactions,and tapings of our educational programs for American Public Television, they demonstrate the effect that developing listening skills has on members of The Discovery Orchestra’saudiences. And based on numerous emails, letters and calls received from public television viewers of our programs from around the United States and abroad—for more than a decade now—many of them are also experiencing newly enhanced and vital listening encounters with classical music. And this is apparently true for seasoned classical music concert goers and novices alike.

Please take a moment to leisurely gaze at these individuals of different ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities. You are viewing them in an altered state—transformed by the powerful emotional content delivered to them in abstract musical sounds—a truly magical experience, the fostering of which is the raison d’être for The Discovery Orchestra’s existence. It is the goal for which we strive … to help transform a person’s life and listening relationship with classical music.