The Las Vegas Philharmonic is a cornerstone of the city’s vibrant arts scene, bringing world-class orchestral music to both residents and visitors. Established in 1998 to enrich the cultural landscape of Las Vegas, the orchestra has cultivated a repertoire that ranges from classical masterpieces to contemporary works, showcasing the versatility and talent of its musicians. With performances held at the stunning Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center, the Philharmonic transforms traditional concert experiences into captivating events that resonate with audiences of all ages.
A Symphony of Diversity: The Las Vegas Philharmonic’s Impact on the Community
“The Las Vegas Philharmonic is an integral part of the arts community in Las Vegas,” Robert Chambers of the Las Vegas Philharmonic told us. “As the only professional orchestra in Southern Nevada, the Las Vegas Philharmonic provides access to high-quality performances to both residents and visitors. These enriching cultural experiences are beyond the typical entertainment offerings that can be regularly found in Las Vegas.”
With fun, family-friendly performances like the works of John Williams and Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, the Las Vegas Philharmonic has transformed the concept of a formal orchestra into a performance vehicle for all ages to enjoy. “Audience demographics have always been changing, as they do for everything,” Chris Stager, the VP of marketing for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, explained of the changing audiences. “Orchestras can be demographic-resistant, if you will, by presenting music in ways that are interesting and creativity curated. That connects audiences with the familiar and the unfamiliar, which deepens the relationship of the audience concert to concert and builds subscribers. So, it’s not a demographic question; it’s a geographic one. We’re in a continual process of building an orchestra that reflects the values of the growing Las Vegas community. That speaks to the unique character of Las Vegas, and I think you’ll see that develop season upon season: What we play, where we play it, when we play it.”
“The Las Vegas Philharmonic has grown so well with our rapidly changing community. We have diversified our programs to incorporate concerts that are accessible to all. For example, our incredibly successful Bugs Bunny at the Symphony and John Williams Concerts last season were extremely engaging,” Chambers added. “Along with these programs, our usual classical concerts also have new and contemporary works alongside the classical standards, such as the cultural tent polls for our concerts. Our tickets are also reasonably priced, starting at $29 compared to the average show on the Strip, where tickets start at over $100.”
Alice Sauro, Executive Director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, also made note of the showcased performances.” Robert mentioned the success of Bugs Bunny at the Symphony on the 22-23 season. This was an enormous eye-opener for this community post-COVID. Grandparents brought their children and grandchildren for this shared experience! More sold-out classical concerts occurred that weekend. Now we are incorporating more pops style events with full orchestra to show the power of classical music in ALL music.”
Beyond its captivating concerts, the Las Vegas Philharmonic is dedicated to community engagement and education. Through various outreach programs and initiatives, the orchestra inspires young musicians and fosters a love for music within the community. “The Las Vegas Philharmonic is always looking for ways we can improve and expand our education and community outreach programs,” Chambers told us. “This season, we hosted over 6,000 students for our Youth Concerts. The Las Vegas Philharmonic also holds a concerto competition every year. The winner is offered the opportunity to perform with the orchestra during the young people’s concerts the following season. This season, our program was entitled “Music of Las Vegas, Music of the World.” This program introduced students’ music from across the globe, which has influenced the music of our world today.”
As times change, the Las Vegas Philharmonic has worked hard to provide the best performances, whether classic or contemporary. “Contemporary composers and works are very important, especially in giving a voice to the historically underrepresented communities throughout the world,” Chambers told us. “Recently, we featured many works by living female composers and commissioned a work recently by a Mexican composer that helped shine a light on the contributions of the Latino communities to the Art and Culture of Las Vegas.”
“Contemporary music, the voices of our time, appear on three of our seven “classical” programs next year,” Stager added. “And these works are part of the fabric of the concert. They comment on and complement the more established masterworks on the program. For example, Audrey Kelly has composed a work based on the 1920’s. Her “Four Vignettes from The Roaring Twenties” will precede George Gershwin’s Concerto in F, authentic from that period. Each gives the other a new context. Commissioning may come later, but at the moment, we want to champion works by living composers that deserve another hearing.”
“Much of this music has been part of us for a century or two or even longer. An evening with the humanity of Beethoven or the elegance of Mozart is time well spent,” Stager said of the experience. “It inspires us to our own inspirations. To show the possibilities of ideas without words. To dream and think bigger and grander. People think you have to know music to enjoy a concert. It’s actually the opposite. It’s not about getting into the composer’s head but about the composer getting into yours. People find The Smith Center warm and inviting, a beautiful space to sit and reflect collectively, whether it’s an evening of music’s greatest masterworks or an evening of Symphonic Beatles or local entertainers. The Las Vegas Philharmonic tries to present the breadth of all music can be and reflect the ambition of this always changing city.”
“Las Vegas Philharmonic Concerts are spaces where all are welcome,” Chambers told us. “The Las Vegas Phil offers unique and enriching cultural experiences that transcend the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip.”
