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The KPAC Blog features classical music news, reviews, and analysis from South Texas and around the world.

Lone Star Philharmonic In San Antonio Looks For A Jumpstart

Richard Castillo conducting the Lone Star Philharmonic.
Nathan Felix
Richard Castillo conducting the Lone Star Philharmonic.

One of San Antonio’s area symphonies is trying to jumpstart its season.  That symphony is the Lone Star Philharmonic, and its Artistic Director is Richard Castillo. He's just launched a Twitter presence and christened its first project.

"And that project is called The Amadeus Effect. I'm trying to find a way to get us back working as safely as possible,” Castillo said. “And The Amadeus Effect is a way to kind of segue into performing again, via Mozart."

The music he's planning doesn't require an orchestra of 70 musicians to perform, and that's by design.

"And with everything now with social distancing and spacing everybody out. I think having an orchestra of about 30 people is much more feasible than trying to put on some big Romantic-era work," he said.

The Lone Star Philharmonic launched just last year, and with COVID-19 sidelining everyone, this year’s jumpstart is in its early stages.

Credit Nathan Felix
Lone Star Philharmonic

"I'm aiming to have something going on maybe by late October, November,” he said. “It would be nice to have some kind of outdoor concerts or open air of course, with some shade and everything."

He's also open to the idea of performing inside if it can be done safely.

“But of course, we would follow all the safety guidelines. You know, wearing a mask. Social distancing, handling sanitation,” Castillo said. “And I think everybody would be able to go along with that."

He said it's difficult to find a new way forward and not just accept isolation as the new normal. He thinks we need one another, and to be able to gather together.

"I think now more than ever, we're just craving that so bad. And we miss it terribly," he said.

He urges you to connect with the Philharmonic on social media to stay involved, and exchange ideas for the way forward. 

Jack Morgan can be reached at Jack@TPR.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii.

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Jack Morgan can be reached at jack@tpr.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii