Music in the Making: The Worthington Chamber Orchestra
Editorial written by: Mick, Michael L. Ball, AIA Emeritus Past President, Building Worthington’s Future
Image source: worthingtonchamberorchestra.com
Building a strong and steady future for Worthington does mean creating new economic opportunities and introducing new community features and attractions, but it also means maintaining and growing the existing precious programs that Worthington currently possesses. One of these is our unique and obvious love and appreciation of the arts. Whether it is visual art, performance art, or the art of music, Worthington understands how art can truly bring a community together. Art stimulates conversation, facilitates creative thinking, and brings people together. Building Worthington’s Future focuses on growing a strong economy within Worthington so that we can continue to support art programs, including (but not limited to) the Worthington Chamber Orchestra.
I’ve lived in Worthington since 1987 but my career was spent with architectural firms in downtown Columbus, so the central city and the American Institute of Architects were always my focus. In 1992 I was asked to chair the Building Committee for the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington (MAC),
role in the community where I lived. Being asked to work on this great project was the fulfillment of a desire I always possessed - to be closely involved in the arts. That desire played a major role in my decision to become an architect, a career where I could learn, experience, and appreciate all art forms.
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Image source: mcconnellarts.org
The MAC officially opened in 2009 and in 2013 while serving as president of the board of the MAC my wife and I attended a program at the MAC featuring a small ensemble of musicians who performed classical music. I enjoyed the music and wanted to see more of it at the MAC, so I mentioned this to the lead musician, clarinetist Antoine Clark. At the time I had no idea that Antoine was contemplating a career in music conducting and my comments encouraged him to speak with the MAC Executive Director about the concept of starting a Chamber Orchestra. Antoine had earned a Doctoral of Musical Arts in clarinet performance at The Ohio State University and a Master of Music in clarinet performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. As he began work on his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at OSU, he pulled together a group of Central Ohio musicians to form a Chamber Orchestra for the MAC.
After 9 years of operating as a program of the MAC, it became necessary for the orchestra to strike out on its own. Several of us were invited to a pre-concert briefing in the Spring of 2021 where plans for this move were announced. After some discussion, we decided that we would form a board of directors, apply for incorporation with the Ohio Attorney General, and apply for tax-exempt status with the IRS. So, in July of 2022, we became the Worthington Chamber Orchestra, a new not-for-profit business in Worthington and I was elected to chair the new board.
It has been amazing to see, for the first time, what it takes to run an orchestra. I’ve learned that our musicians play for multiple orchestras around the Midwest thereby allowing them something close to full-time employment as an artist. Many times, they teach privately or serve as an instructor at a university. Likewise, Antoine Clark, our Artistic and Music Director, serves as a guest conductor all over the US and serves as Assistant Conductor for multiple orchestras. WCO now has a staff of 5:
· Executive Director. Runs the business side of the orchestra from banking, to hiring musicians, to fundraising and strategic planning.
· Orchestra Manager. Orders and distributes music to our musicians, issues contracts, and generally makes sure our musicians have what they need to perform at their best.
· Production Manager. Sets up for rehearsals and concerts and makes sure that everything is in place for the best sound and staging.
· Marketing Manager. Oversees social media and press relations, and generally promotes the orchestra.
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Image source: worthingtonchamberorchestra.com
“The mission of the Worthington Chamber Orchestra (WCO) is to support local artists while providing diverse and dynamic programming that entertains, inspires, and fosters music education. WCO cultivates meaningful relationships between artists and the Worthington community.” My goal, as a young professional, was to be on the receiving end of this mission statement. Isn’t it amazing how life presents ways in which our dreams are realized that we would never have imagined?
