Violins That Bring Hope

As a musician, I enjoy it when people trust me enough to allow me into their world for important events in their lives. We see them at weddings, funerals, church services, and sometimes in the hospital. It’s a privilege to be invited into someone’s world. I’ve enjoyed being a part of the city’s Martin Luther […]

Exploring “New Worlds”

Part of our jobs as musicians is to get others excited about what we do, whether it’s a pops concert, opera, ballet, masterworks, or a new electronic piece that no one’s ever heard. I’m really excited about the January Masterworks concert this week for several reasons.  The first piece that we are playing is by […]

It’s the Most Musical Time of the Year

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” For most businesses, planning for the holidays begins early, even before Autumn. So in October and November, people ask the musicians if we’ve started working on the music for the Christmas concert. Because we don’t see the music until about ten days before the first concert, it’s […]

Casting a vision for the next three years

KSO announces extension of Aram Demirjian contract The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra announced on Monday, Nov. 12 that the KSO Board of Directors has extended Maestro Aram Demirjian’s contract as Music Director for three years beyond the current three year contract that began in 2016. This extension takes Maestro Demirjian through the 2021-2022 season. Highlights of […]

A new face and a job well done: KSO Staff News

KSO Staff News and Acknowledgements Accolades Rachel Dellinger (KSO Director of Communications) has been named a 2018 Honoree for KnoxBiz.com’s 40 Under 40. She is responsible for media and community relations, web and social media, and public relations/marketing efforts for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Since 2012, she has measurably increased engagement on Knoxville Symphony’s social media platforms, implemented  […]

Four Notes

Four notes. That’s how many notes it takes to get a gasp out of the audiences when we play music from Harry Potter. It’s such a wonderful moment and it makes us remember the power of music. The KSO performs the Young People’s Concerts annually at the Civic Auditorium for more than 8,000 elementary students […]

Musician Spotlight: Stringy Business

KSO Cellist and Owner of Wilhite Strings rents instruments to area students, furthers their music education   Bruce Wilhite has played cello with the Knoxville Symphony for more than 25 years. He was a full-time core member from 1980-2003 at which point he transitioned to a per service member of the cello section.  He opened […]

Board of Directors draws 2 more community leaders

View the KSO Board of Directors here. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors has grown by two this season. New members include recently-elected Patricia Bible, Founder/CEO of KaTom Restaurant Supply and Christian Corts, Regional VP of BB&T. A native of Greenville, S.C., Corts received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Samford University. He was as […]

Music Under Stalin’s Shadow

Music composed under Stalin’s regime provides emotional escape Most people have deadlines for work, an annoying boss, and feel underpaid. The Soviet era composers, artists and writers, including Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev had to deal with all of that plus the fear of winding up in a labor camp or being shot for displeasing the dictator Joseph […]

Double (Viola) Trouble, Part II

MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT: Megan Kehren, KSYO conductor and KSO Violist Many music teachers tell their students, “I was once where you are.” In Megan Kehren’s case, she was EXACTLY where her students are – taking her seat as a violist in the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra (KSYO), and now as an adult, she leads a youth […]