Latest news with #NashvilleSymphony
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Organizers: Nashville Symphony fundraiser nets record $960K for education, programming
In its 20th year, the Nashville Symphony Fashion Show reached a historic crescendo in fundraising with a record-breaking $960,000 raised for education and community engagement programs. The fashion show was held April 29 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, featuring a runway show of the fall and winter 2025 collection by American eveningwear designer Pamella Roland. A performance by Vince Gill was considered a highlight of the show, Hall Strategies director Nancy Floyd said in a statement via email. The event welcomed about 650 guests to the Schermerhorn Center. Floyd said $660,000 of the proceeds raised will serve more than 60,000 students and adults this year. The programs funded included: Young People's Concerts, dynamic live orchestra performances and lesson plans tailored for K-12 students that reach thousands of students each year Free Community Concerts, which take place each summer in parks across the region, connecting the Nashville Symphony with tens of thousands of Middle Tennesseans Classroom visits from Nashville Symphony musicians to inspire students and introduce them to live orchestral music Hands-on instruction and mentorship for local music students, including side-by-side performance experiences And the Nashville Symphony's groundbreaking Accelerando program, which provides music instruction and mentorship to Tennessee students. The program prepares highly gifted young performers to pursue careers in music, and provides opportunities for musicians from diverse backgrounds who are underrepresented in today's orchestras. Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@ and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Report: Nashville Symphony fundraiser nets record $960K for education
CBC
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
What the Juilliard School's plans to go tuition-free could mean for developing artists
Back in 2018, when William Leathers was a young student in Mississauga, he raised money through a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his tuition to attend Juilliard, the prestigious music school. Now, that financial factor for admission may soon be lifted for future students, as the Juilliard School recently announced it plans to one day become a tuition-free institution. Today on Commotion, William Leathers, now the principal trumpet player for the Nashville Symphony, joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share his thoughts on the plans and what it could mean for future students from around the world. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube:
CBS News
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
The War and Treaty reflect on their love story and journey in the music industry
Michael and Tanya Trotter, the powerhouse husband-and-wife duo known as The War and Treaty, are back with their fourth studio album, "Plus One," released on Valentine's Day. The couple's music blends country, R&B, and gospel influences. Last month, the Trotters took the stage in Nashville for their first-ever performances with an orchestra, playing three nights with the Nashville Symphony. "It's something supernatural," Tanya said about singing with Michael. "But before we start singing together, there's a prayer ... We grab hands and it's just Michael and I, and I say, 'God, please let people see you and not see us. Let them feel your love.'" The War and Treaty's road to success The duo's journey in music started at a music festival in Maryland, where Tanya was immediately captivated by Michael. "It was called the Love Fest. He performed, and I was smitten," Tanya said, although Michael remembers it differently. "Tanya ignored me," he joked. They married in 2011, but it wasn't until three years later that they started singing together. Their path to success wasn't easy as they faced challenges both in their personal lives and careers. Michael, a U.S. Army veteran who saw combat in Iraq, struggled with PTSD, while Tanya battled depression and suicide attempts. Despite these hardships, the couple found strength in their relationship and in their music. Tanya's own experience with the music industry wasn't without its challenges. Having had a promising career in music, she walked away from the industry due to its pressures. "Once you're 17, you're bright-eyed, and then you get into the business of music. And it becomes, 'Your little pantsuit isn't enough. Put on a mini skirt. Or, 'Let's do this kinda song because that's what's on the charts,"' she said. Even so, Tanya and Michael find strength in their music. Tanya admits that their challenges are part of what makes their sound so powerful. "It's the ups and downs. It's the suicide attempts. It's the depression. All that stuff that I know somebody in that audience is feeling or has felt," she said. Their unique blend of country, R&B, and gospel influences helped them find their place in the music world. Michael credits the blues as a guiding force, drawing inspiration from legends like James Brown and Ray Charles. "This is where the War and Treaty should exist," Michael said, reflecting on their musical journey. They struggled to find a home in R&B or gospel, but said the country music world embraced them. They toured with Chris Stapleton and sang with the Brothers Osborne on the CMA Awards. Now, The War and Treaty are focused on their legacy. "I want our story to end with being healing agents," Michael said. Tanya adds, "I want it to end with a legacy of love. I'm just foolish enough to believe that love is the answer."
