A New Year, A New Name!

From a press release that went out this week...

For many, there is no better time than the New Year for a transformation. The Nashville Chamber Orchestra is doing just that with the adoption of a new name, Orchestra Nashville, and a new aesthetic to creatively represent the progressive organization. Their mission to engage and inspire audiences and musicians with the innovative presentation of traditional classical repertory and new music that celebrates Nashville’s eclectic music community remains unchanged.

The move to “Orchestra Nashville” marks the second name change in the organization’s history...

Originally known regionally as the Cumberland Chamber Orchestra, the organization changed their name to the Nashville Chamber Orchestra in 1997 to coincide with their Warner Brothers Records CD release debut Conversations in Silence. Including the word “Nashville” in the new name better represented their collaborations with artists in the local music community and the record release gave the orchestra and its conductor/music director Paul Gambill, greater exposure to a national audience. It is clear that, more than ten years after the last name change, the new title “Orchestra Nashville” better embodies their “Music Without Boundaries” priority.

“The name change gives us an opportunity for a more expansive definition of what our orchestra is,” says Paul Gambill. The separation from “chamber orchestra” frees the organization from its overtly formal connotation and better describes the orchestra’s more fluid idea of performance.

Gambill’s vision for the growth for the orchestra has always remained steadfast. Critical acclaim and a GRAMMY™ nomination for their recordings highlight their history. The intimacy Gambill creates between the audience and the musicians both during performances, and online (uncovering the behind the scenes activities of the orchestra) puts this unique recording and performing entity in a category apart from other orchestras and earned Gambill the Nashville Scene critics award for “Best Conductor To Turn Classical Music on its Head.”

As before, the name change will be accompanied by the release of new-recorded material. In February 2008, Orchestra Nashville will release three singles from collaborations with current Artists-in-Residence John Jorgenson and Darrell Scott. Recorded during the 2007-08 season, these singles are the first releases from what will be three full length “Uncovered” recording projects powered by ArtistShare, where fans are granted exclusive, behind-the-scenes VIP access to the orchestra and its Artists-in-Residence as well as the new recordings for a one-time fee.

In the coming months, Gambill will announce the 2008-09 season and their new artist in residence and the composer-in-residence. He will also announce a newly commissioned work from an artist of international repute and unveil a new partnership with Belmont University’s Curb School of Music to record their projects at the legendary Oceanway Studios. All signs point to Orchestra Nashville’s evolution into an exciting new fourth sector of business entity, where a non-profit is profitable for the public good. Orchestra Nashville serves the Nashville community first and foremost.