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Play it forward

What's the impact of good deeds in uncertain times?

By Tim Johnson

In early March this year, a small idea took shape for one member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (CSO). With help from colleagues and an official "ok" from the CSO, "Play It Forward" was launched to bring live classical music into unlikely locations—at no cost—across the Denver metro area.

So far, performances have taken place at the Hospice of St. John in Lakewood, the Denver Rescue Mission, in Denver Workforce Centers and, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building on March 24.

The idea for the project came to CSO violinist Brad Watson shortly after the staff and musicians of the symphony were asked to forgo a week's salary to help the financial stability of the organization. The group voted and approved the financial give-back.

After that vote, Watson chatted with his wife, Alicia, about other opportunities to give back. "We decided that what we do best is playing music, and to spread that throughout the city as widely as possible, especially during these economic times," said Watson, who has been with the CSO for six seasons.

The idea flourished like crocuses in a warm Colorado spring.

More than 50 musicians have volunteered for the program, representing each family of orchestra instruments: woodwinds, strings, brass and solo instruments. "Our hope is for it to give us a little more exposure so people will call us, and allow us to reach more people," Watson said.

Nearly two-thirds of the CSO musicians have volunteered to perform with Play It Forward, according to Brad Watson (above).

The March 24 performance at the Webb building will likely attract a larger audience, as well as being an opportunity to attract attention from organizations that would like to have a performance in their facility

Two musicians typically perform and the music selection is up to them. "One interesting thing has been the audience's response," said Watson. "People don't know we're going to be there, except the contact person and the musicians. We show up and we play. People have stopped, stood and listened—some for a solid 30 minutes. And they bring their children up, very close to us. And they sit and they watch.

"It's one thing to hear classical music on the radio and it's something else to see it being performed," he said. "And the kids are just very interesting in the physical motions of creating this music. It's very gratifying as a performer to have people sit and watch you play in such an impromptu atmosphere."

After one performance an employee came up to Watson and said that the atmosphere is typically quite chaotic in that facility but for the time the musicians were performing, it had a noticeably different feel. "That's what we're hoping for," he said.

"This is what we do, and we feel very grateful to the city for supporting the orchestra, and for the bond measure that was passed to renovate or build a new hall. It's our way of saying thank you. By doing this we can help. What we do is play music and that's what we give."

How to Request
a Play It Forward Performance

Don't feel like you've missed out on the opportunity to enjoy these small-scale concerts—the Play It Forward season is set to continue (at least) through June.

To request a performance for your organization, visit the CSO website at http://www.coloradosymphony.org/ and click the "Play it Forward" link on the left column of the web site.