Symphony set for Crockett Park

The Nashville Symphony opens the 2009 Brentwood Concert Series at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater at Crockett Park. Unfortunately the symphony's new Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero, who has settled in Brentwood with his family, is out of town and won't be able to make it. But have no fear, Resident Conductor Albert-George Schram is at the ready and up for the job. I understand he's really fun to watch. Best of all, he's looking forward to it too.

Here's what Schram had to say in a BrentWord exclusive....

The concert is one Brentwood residents look forward to each year. Is this anticipation reciprocated by the symphony?
Most definitely. We love performing at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, but there’s something exciting about performing for people in their own communities – the audience really feels at home, and it’s such a relaxed atmosphere. We have a lot of fans and supporters in Brentwood who come to our concerts, but it’s also gratifying to know that anytime we perform our concerts in the parks, we’re also going to reach an audience who might not have gotten to hear the symphony perform before – especially children, who don’t have as many opportunities to go to concerts.

What do you love about the venue -- the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater?
It’s such a wonderful, family-friendly environment. Compared to downtown Nashville, it has the feel of a small-town gathering, and this time of year it’s always so nice to be outdoors, surrounded by the smells and sounds of the springtime. The weather is just warm enough – but not sweltering.

What are the challenges of playing outdoors?
There are quite a few, actually. Musical instruments can be very fickle and subject to changes in temperature and humidity, so our players have to work extra-hard to make sure their instruments stay in tune. The acoustics are also quite challenging. Even if you have a band shell with some kind of roof overhead, the sound doesn’t travel the same way it does in a concert hall. So my job is to make sure that even if the musicians aren’t hearing everything they’re used to hearing, I can help make sure that they’re all working together. And once we’ve managed to tackle that challenge, then we’re really able to enjoy the rewards of playing outdoors – seeing all those happy faces, enjoying the springtime breezes and the sunshine.

Hope to see you at the park, and don't forget to bring Mom -- it is her day remember!