TEHACHAPI, Calif. — When it’s come to social events, many of us have played this pandemic by ear. Well, the Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra has found a way to go on with the first show of the season despite COVID-19. 23ABC’s Kristin Vartan has the details of this weekend's concert, including health guidelines that will be followed.
It may be music to our viewer’s ears to hear that the Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert this Sunday behind the County Oaks Baptist Church.
The orchestra’s music director, David Newby, explained why the orchestra decided to kick off their season and how they’ll do so safely.
“People are hungry for this. I think a lot of people are feeling like the culture has really slowed down.”
Newby said masks and social distancing will be instrumental additions to the concert to comply with county health regulations.
"The brass and the wind players of course cannot be masked, but there’s only five in each group so it’s a small group. They’re going to be distanced even more and further away from the audience."
Newby said the narrative of the classical performance is timeless. Concert-goers can expect Mozart and Tchaikovsky, baroque stylings, and even a folk song about a poor and rich man from the Bible.
“There will always be that gulf, that wrestling of how do people from different social strata get along," explained Newby. "I think particularly in our culture now, when we seem ever more divided.
We need to examine the gulfs between us and to find a way to bridge those.”
The pre-show will start at 3:30 p.m. with wind and brass. The string and piano performance will follow at 4 p.m. There will be no intermission or reception to follow in order to promote social distancing. And best of all, the concert is free!
“And as soon as we’re done, they can just scoot out the door. Well there won’t be a door, so I guess scoot around a building,” Newby added laughing.
Newby said he was worried about the air quality or fires affecting the concert, and he wasn’t worried about the prospect of a cancellation.
