OKC Philharmonic teams with Thunder, Dodgers
The Oklahoma City Philharmonic is challenging the stereotype that you can’t love both the arts and athletics with its Discovery Family Series for children and their parents.
“I think it’s nice for them to see it doesn’t have to be ‘either-or.’ It can be ‘both-and.’ They can do sports, they also can play in their school orchestra, they can play in their school band, they can sing in a choir,” said Education Conductor Matthew Troy.
“Anytime you have kind of a gathering of people, you’re going to have music involved. So, I think sports has a lot of really great tie-ins.”
The philharmonic will kick off its 2018-19 Discovery season by teaming up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dodgers and Energy at 2 p.m. Sunday for the “Sports and Music” concert at the Civic Center. Thunder mascot Rumble the Bison will conduct John Philip Sousa’s “The Thunderer,” OKC Dodgers mascots Brooklyn and Brix will play along with Julius Fucik’s “Entrance of the Gladiators,” and the Western Avenue Boxing Club will get into the ring with Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now,” aka the theme from “Rocky.”
The program also will include a medley of college fight songs. Along with movies and television, Troy said school fight songs often are among children’s first exposures to orchestral music.
“Anytime they hear the orchestra playing something familiar to them, that’s an exciting thing, because they feel like they’re already in the know,” Troy said. “(I’m) not taking for granted that this is the first time a kid may see a live symphony orchestra. That’s a pretty amazing thing.”
Enriching experience
The three-concert Discovery series is designed for children ages 4 to 13 and their families. Each Sunday afternoon installment
features preshow activities — a musical instrument playground, conductor’s corner, hands-on artmaking and more — along with the orchestra’s theme performance.
The series will continue Feb. 17 with a “Knights and Princesses” concert theme and conclude April 7 with a “Schoolhouse Jamboree.” The philharmonic has committed to keeping Discovery ticket prices under $10, said Executive Director Eddie Walker.
“We want there to be opportunities at an affordable price for families to experience orchestral music,” Walker said. “I consider it one of the most important things we do.”