What Professional Organizations Can Learn from Community Orchestras

Sitting in an internet cafe in a bus station in Tallinn, Estonia, I sent in an entry to the San Francisco Symphony's blogging contest about the future of American orchestras.  And I won!  Check it out:

"Community: it’s not just a polite word for amateur, it is the heart and soul of America’s thriving non-professional symphonies. Community orchestras deftly bridge the gap between classical performance and contemporary life that presents a daunting challenge to the future of classical music in this country. Building community is all about building relationships. The web of personal connections among performers, audience members, and the music itself give these groups a consistent energy and audience that many professional groups struggle to achieve. . . ."  read more