WELCOME!

Welcome to Conducting Electricity. Since September 2014 I’ve been writing for the Florida Times-Union, keeping everyone up to date with what’s happening at the Jacksonville Symphony. These posts are reproduced with permission.

I also write about what’s going on in my life as a performing musician and the music I love, while trying to demystify my strange profession of conducting. I love to hear from you, so please leave comments. If there’s a question you’re dying to ask, or a topic you’d like to know more about, please send me a note and I’ll address it in a future post. Enjoy!

Latest Posts

Cat Links Conducting Electricity, Jacksonville Symphony

Symphony in 60 and Sibelius Symphony No. 2

Posted on Courtney Lewis

This Thursday sees the second instalment of our new concert series, Symphony in 60. Over the last season, we’ve been experimenting with new ways of presenting music with the hope of reaching new listeners and inspiring music-lovers. For many people with families or busy workdays, a concert at 8.00pm doesn’t work, so we’ve set up Sunday matinees at 3, and Symphony in 60, which begins at 6. Although we come to the orchestra to hear music, concerts also provide a great opportunity to socialize and meet new people. Symphony in 60 begins with a happy hour at 5pm. Come right after work and mingle with fellow Jacksonvillians over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before the concert. Symphonic music can often be baffling to newcomers. Each Symphony

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Cat Links Conducting Electricity, Jacksonville Symphony

Into the Future

Posted on Courtney Lewis

This week at the Jacksonville Symphony we announced our programs for next season. Of course all of the music has been planned for some months, but I’m always delighted and relieved to tell everyone what’s in store. It can be a little like waiting for Christmas. This current season’s programs have outlined an artistic vision that I’ve spoken about before: a great orchestra should be at home in as wide a range of repertoire as possible, from the Baroque music of the eighteenth century, all the way up to music being written by living composers. A great orchestra should also reach as many people in our community as possible, through Masterworks concerts, but also through Pops presentations and education programs. I’m very proud of what

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