\u201cWe strive to build a ‘culture of team’,\u201d says Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (ASO) CEO Christina Littlejohn. ASO committees include members of the orchestra, board, and staff. \u201cWe enjoy a backstage champagne toast for everyone on opening night, a holiday party, an end-of-year party where people share their favorite moment of the concert season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But caring means more than socializing or even committee work. Littlejohn believes that a tone was set during the pandemic. \u201cWe paid all full-time musicians and professional staff salaries, no furloughs,\u201d she recalls. Even per service musicians, after being paid for contracted services, continued to receive small gifts from the symphony to let them know they were not forgotten. \u201cOur message was all about keeping people employed,\u201d Littlejohn explains. The care shown to musicians resonated with the community. Subscriptions saw a 97% retention rate, and a virtual gala exceeded goals even without the dancing and steak dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pandemic made an opening for the musicians\u2019 own initiative to care for the community, a good example of internal and external alignment around caring. \u201cBedtime with Bach\u201d was a series of online solo and small-ensemble performances of lullaby-worthy repertoire, streamed live every night at 9:00pm, \u201cmeant to provide a soothing comfort during very stressful times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n