BY MICHELE MILLER
What’s What New Port Richey
A week after the last concert of the season Denise Isaacson was breathing a big sigh of relief.
As longtime director and principal clarinet player for the community orchestra, Isaacson had no idea what the 2020-2021 concert season would bring – or if there would even be a season – when the group began rehearsing with plexiglass partitions back in October.
Despite the loss of musicians, venues, revenue and sometimes the threat of stormy weather, the Richey Community Orchestra managed to pull off a shortened season featuring drive-in concerts held outdoors at the Hudson First United Methodist Church.
The orchestra had been blessed with clear skies, even when the threat of storms raised concerns for the season finale. The sun came out and last minute ticket sales were swifter than expected as cars rolled in for the afternoon concert, with some patrons setting up chairs on a green patch of lawn or listening by radio in the comfort of their cars.
PHOTOS | MICHELE MILLER
The show, a salute to 60s Broadway tunes, featured selections from musicals such as Man of La Mancha, Fiddler on the Roof, Mame, Gypsy, Funny Girl, Sweet Charity and Oliver played under the church entrance overhang in the makeshift outdoor venue. There, clapping, whistling and beeping horns were signs of appreciation for sounds well heard once conductor, Stephen P. Brown, made his final cue.
“All week long I was in a panic about the weather,” Isaacson said after laying out the logistics it would have taken to move the orchestra to an indoor lobby.
“You can’t play instruments in the rain,” she said. Folks listening in their cars would be able to hear the orchestra on their radios at least, but that would not have been ideal for the audience.
But in the end it all worked out, the season was a success, despite the uncertain start in October.
Plexiglass, purchased with pandemic funding from the county, was a safety measure for orchestra members and the potential audiences. But COVID-19 concerns still kept some players away. The orchestra’s usual venues – Center for the Arts at River Ridge and Spartan Manor – were off limits due to restrictions.
After researching what other small orchestras were doing, Isaacson adopted a “Drive-In” concept. She scoped out a few venues before landing an agreement with the church that had an ideal overhang outside the lobby.
“Every show has been a learning experience,” she said, adding that the orchestra had to bring in sound technicians so performances could be piped in via car radio. “We’ve never done outdoor events. This was a challenge for us.”
It took a collective effort that included musicians and family members, and some of the singers in the chorus who could not perform this year, but showed up to volunteer. Church members also helped out in roping off space and directing parking. Some volunteered to help with concession sales and tickets sales at the gate.
“The people at the church went above and beyond,” said Isaacson, as did members of the orchestra and their family members, including her husband, John, who does a lot of the heavy lifting.
Add to that, the man at the helm, Stephen P. Brown.
“Our conductor is wonderful,” Isaacson said. “He brought us up a lot and really makes us feel good when we deliver.”
There were a couple of unexpected caveats as well, Isaacson pointed out.
“A third of the orchestra did not come back because of COVID, but we filled the chairs pretty well with new players,” she said.
The orchestra also picked up new fans in the Hudson area. They might follow up next season, when the Richey Community Orchestra expects to return to traditional venues.
Some would like the outdoor concerts to continue, but that’s a huge undertaking on a regular basis, Isaacson said.
The drive-in was an answer for a time, she said.
“The most important thing was it kept us going and kept us playing. If we lost money – and we didn’t – that would have been okay for us. We love to make music. It’s what we do. It’s who we are.”
NOTE: Interested in supporting the orchestra? Become a sponsor, advertiser, ticket buyer or help support the Richey Community Orchestra through Amazon purchases. Interested in performing with the orchestra? Strings are especially needed and rehearsals start up in October 2021. For information, check out the Richey Community Orchestra website.
Related
Stepping Out |Things to Do
Sign up to have the What’s What New Port Richey newsletter delivered directly to your inbox.
