Treat Yourself

Symphoria ‘can be a great spot to disconnect’

BY COURTNEY KLESS

In the September issue, we introduced you to Symphoria, which is celebrating a milestone this season.

Attending a performance also happens to be a wonderful way to treat yourself.

“Symphoria can be a great spot to disconnect from the outside world for a little bit and reconnect to yourself and to other people in the community and have a shared experience of music,” said Executive Director Pamela Murchison. “There’s nothing quite like the experience of live music.”

You may remember that Symphoria was officially started in 2012 (its successor, the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, went bankrupt the year before, and its musicians continued to perform). There is only one other cooperative orchestra in the country like it.

These days, the orchestra’s performances take place at a variety of venues (including Crouse Hinds Theater, Inspiration Hall and Saint Paul’s Syracuse), running anywhere from 50 minutes (kid’s concerts) to two hours (masterworks and pops concerts).

Tickets can be purchased in advance online (they typically cost around $20) – or at the box office the day of the show. Either way, Murchison said Symphoria encourages its guests to participate in “whatever way they feel most comfortable.”

“You can get dressed up, you can dress down, you can come by yourself, you can come with friends, whatever,” she added. “You can know a lot about the music, or you can know nothing about the music, and it’s still beautiful…We really are building community through music, and we encourage people to use the orchestra in whatever way they need. So whatever celebration, or relationships you’re trying to build or enjoy or celebrate, we hope that you choose to do it through music with us.”

For more information, visit experience symphoria.org