The mission of the Phoenix Symphony is to provide extraordinary musical experiences that inspire and advance our community, enriching the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds. With our mission in mind, we strive to share the music of the Phoenix Symphony with all Arizona students. Thanks to the support of generous donors like Carole and Arte Moreno, we are able to offer 18 different FREE admission field trip options for Arizona students.
On the morning of November 15, 432 Arizona students experienced the final rehearsal before that evening’s performance of A John Williams Celebration. Conductor Bob Bernhardt spoke with the students about the role of a conductor, his goals for the rehearsal and shared the score. He also took time for questions from the students that allowed them to learn more about a symphony orchestra. As the musicians arrived and took the stage to warm up, a few brass musicians came over to talk about their experiences performing John Williams’ music. During rehearsal, the conductor continued to share his insights and reasoning with the students.
Read what some students had to say:
“I was surprised that so many violins could be so quiet…”
– Ethan Takher
“I was surprised at how accurate the music sounded…I thought it was a speaker!”
– Melia Sierra-Guyader
“I did not expect to know every song they played”
– Darya Broumand
“It surprised me how much it sounded like the movies”
– Kaveh Koochek
“Something I didn’t expect was the lights and the light saber and the hat”
– Mina Azimi
“They did great because they were really concentrated”
– Steven Fournier
“Something I did not expect was how powerful the music was in person”
– Amerie Naden
“I was completely on cloud 9 the whole time. I have listened to this music since I was a young boy carrying a portable cd player in my backpack and putting on the John Williams Greatest Hits on trips with my family. I’ve never been able to experience this music live before AND sit so close to the orchestra to see and hear every instrumentalist play with such passion. I now have a wonderful memory and feeling to look back on as I think about this experience that was given to me and my students. Thank you, Phoenix Symphony, for providing such an event for all to enjoy. “
– Daniel Reynolds, ISA Music Teacher
