by Erin Turner | Jun 17, 2015 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
The sounds of Bison Square ranged from children bowing their first note on a violin to professional musicians playing overtures and dances from composers all around the world Tuesday night. The Nashville Symphony visited Lipscomb for “Symphony Under the Stars” as a part of the free community concert series. John Lowry, executive director of Spark: Lipscomb’s Idea Center, said the last time the Nashville Symphony performed at Lipscomb was in 2010 with Martina McBride in Allen Arena. “If you remember back in 2010, Lipscomb was honored to serve as a host of the Nashville Symphony for many of their concerts as they were reacting and responding to the flood — they made their home,” Lowry said. “We’re excited to have them back.” Although he’s relatively new to Music City, Nashville Symphony conductor Vinay Parameswaran said that the Nashville Symphony has collaborated with Lipscomb many times before he joined, and that all of the community concerts are important to the symphony. “I really love doing these concerts,” Parameswaran said. “It’s fun for me and I know it’s fun for the orchestra. As someone who’s kind of new to Nashville, it’s cool — I get to see new people and different places.” Parameswaran said that many of the program attendees may be symphony subscribers, but the unique thing about the summer community concerts is that they reach a new audience. “For us, we’re able to reach thousands of people through community concerts like this,” Parameswaran said. Symphony Under the Stars even brought along some little musicians who visited the instrument petting zoo, a symphony education program that allows children to get their hands on instruments...
by Hunter Moss | Sep 21, 2010 | News Slider
Michael McDonald’s visit to the Allen Arena stage Sept. 23-35 is proof of the strong tie between the Nashville Symphony and Lipscomb University that was born out of disastrous flooding on May 1-2. The Grammy-winning singer, a former member of the Doobie Brothers, is coming to Lipscomb as a part of the Symphony’s Bank of America Pops Series. The symphony also will continue to use the auditorium for a total of eight events, either pops or classical, during this semester as the Schermerhorn Symphony Center downtown continues to be rebuilt after the devastation caused by the floods that swept through Nashville. Having the symphony on campus is an exciting opportunity, according to Dillon Mayfield, a freshman music major. “I believe Lipscomb hosting the Nashville Symphony is strongly beneficial for music majors and minors,” Mayfield said. “Students should take advantage of attending a concert. It’s in our backyard.” The symphony also is using other facilities in Nashville as it continues its gypsy-like existence since the flood severely damaged its state-of-the-art home, located between Third and Fourth avenues . The symphony actually began using the Lipscomb University campus last summer, setting up shop for six concerts after the floods hit. And that relationship continues to flourish in the months leading up to the reopening of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center downtown. SunTrust Classical Series events at Collins Alumni Auditorium included last weekend’s presentation of Andre Watts playing Beethoven and will continue Dec. 2-4 with cellist Steven Isserlis playing works by John Tavener and Edward Elgar & Bach. In addition to the former Doobie’s performances this weekend, the Bank of America Pops Series featuring the...
