4th Annual Savor the Symphony to Feature Human Nature

At the holidays, when The Phoenix Symphony comes to mind, we might first think of “The Messiah,” the New Year’s Eve Celebration or the Holiday Pops – all wonderful gifts to the community.

But maybe underappreciated are the many educational programs the Symphony provides to the Valley community throughout the year. These programs reach more than 125,000 youth and adults each year, many of whom are exposed to orchestral music for the first time in their lives. The Symphony plays a key leadership role in strengthening integrated arts education in Arizona, with a priority to engage underserved, low-income students, schools and neighborhoods.

Among these programs are:

Symphony for the Schools, which serves more than 25,000 K-12 students each year, bringing them to Symphony Hall for 45-minute concerts during the school day.

Classroom Concerts Series, which takes Symphony Hall into the classroom with interactive performances allowing musicians, students and teachers to connect through music. This program engages more than 20,000 students and teachers each school year.

Mind over Music: The Phoenix Symphony is the only orchestra in the country to implement a quantitatively measured whole school instructional model based on STE[+a]M theory and practice. This pilot project pairs musicians with teachers to create new curriculum and is measured with pre- and post-testing of treatment and control groups to assess the efficacy of the effort.

B-Sharp Music Wellness, a W.O.N.D.E.R. Initiative, which promotes physical, mental and social wellness through the healing power of music. The Symphony has partnered with various hospitals, health institutions and homeless service centers across the Valley to bring the joy of music to more than 15,000 individuals each year.

SAVOR THE SYMPHONY
Support for these programs comes from individuals and businesses as well as from funds raised through events such as Savor the Symphony, a women’s luncheon in its third year. Over its three years, the luncheon has raised more than $400,000 to benefit the Symphony’s Education & Community Engagement programs.

                   Nicole Stanton

The 2016 Savor the Symphony luncheon is co-chaired by Sue Glawe, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona vice president of community relations – Maricopa, and Karrin Taylor, executive vice president DMB Associates. Phoenix First Lady Nicole Stanton is the honorary chair.

“Every kid benefits from exposure to the arts,” Glawe says. “But underserved kids might never get the chance for that exposure. Participating in one of the Symphony’s educational programs can make a lifetime impression.”

The Savor the Symphony Women’s Luncheon has become a signature fundraiser for The Phoenix Symphony, and this year’s event is scheduled for Jan. 15.

Each year, the luncheon features performances by popular (hunky) male groups. They sound great too. The first year The Texas Tenors charmed guests; the second, it was the Midtown Men; and the third year Cheyenne Jackson delighted the women. This year promises to be no exception. The headline group is Human Nature, an Australian pop group known for its Motown sound.

In the morning, guests will have access to the group’s rehearsal on the Symphony Hall stage. Then they will return to the foyer for the luncheon, for which food and drink will be prepared by Beau MacMillan, executive chef of Scottsdale’s Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. During the luncheon, Human Nature members Andrew Tierney, Mike Tierney, Phil Burton and Toby Allen will be seated at guest tables and circulate among the rest of the tables. The group will perform on the Symphony Hall stage after the luncheon.

“It’s a whole day’s worth of fun!” says Glawe.

Sponsorships and limited seating are still available.