Get to know conductor, coffee drinker and crossword puzzle enthusiast Aram Demirjian in this Q&A post, Part II of II. Read Part I here. 1. Can you briefly describe what made you *sure* you wanted to pursue music as a career? What, if anything, bolstered that decision? I remember I was walking home in college […]
Category: Classical Music
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 […]
Chat with the Conductor – Part I
Get to know conductor, coffee drinker and crossword puzzle enthusiast Aram Demirjian in this Q&A post, Part I of II. 1. Describe the orchestra in 3 words. Dynamic, Devoted, Inspiring 2. What is one example you have witnessed that demonstrates the Knoxville Symphony’s impact on the community? One of the most powerful statements I have […]
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 […]
Holiday Greetings from the Maestro
December means tradition, family and music. As we renew our KSO tradition with the 32nd Annual Clayton Holiday Concerts, we are immensely grateful for you, our audience, and for our extended musical family here in Knoxville, from the Knoxville Choral Society to Go! Contemporary Dance Works, and our sponsors, the Clayton Family Companies, especially Jim […]
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 […]