Musical thoughts on “Relevance” - SCO September 2026

Thank you so much for your thoughtful responses about the word “relevance” and how you see it in connection with what we do at SCO. I spent some time looking through all of your sticky notes (all responses are listed below), and one thing came through especially clearly: people and community were at the heart of almost every response.

I noticed five threads running through your thoughts:

Belonging
“Anyone can play music.” “Belonging and representation.” “All ages and backgrounds.” “Intergenerational families.” “Mix of pros and students.”

Connection and Community
“Stay connected to the music and share with the community.” “Music should be an anchor in community and life.” “SCO matters to connect the community with music.” “Music that brings people together and creates community.” “Personal and community fulfillment.” “Emotional connection.”

Growth and Discovery
“Community and growth.” “Community and purpose.” “Community mentorship.” “I want to grow as a musician and represent as a minority in the musical space.” “Joy in the learning process. Growing in a community.”

Meaning
“An anchor in community and life.” “A timeless influence that adds meaning to our modern lives.” “The world needs to listen to amazing music right now.” “Celebrating something REAL.”

Change
“We are changing something - mood, outlook, behavior - in ourselves and others through music.” “Relevance is awareness of the community you are trying to serve. How do you meet these needs?” “People are what makes music relevant... We must know the story in order to create relevance in our lives beyond showing up and playing notes.”

There were so many wonderful comments, and last two comments here, in particularly, have stayed with me as they bring up some hefty philosophical thoughts and questions. They give us a wonderful place to continue thinking more deeply about what relevance might mean for SCO. Specifically, to whom are we relevant and why?

The final comment “People are what makes music relevant... We must know the story in order to create relevance in our lives beyond showing up and playing notes.” Gives us a great place to start pondering more deeply on this question.

SCO isn't relevant simply because we perform music by underrepresented composers, new compositions, or works from the traditional canon. All of those choices matter, but I think relevance happens when we build relationships between the music and ourselves. When we create a story that is worth telling.

Maybe this is why I keep coming back to this word.

It is such a meaningful privilege to make music with all of you and to create a place where we can belong, grow, connect, discover, and even change together.

Thank you for your incredible responses—and for giving me even more to think about.

My very best,
Anna

Relevance quotes (from 09/29/2026)

·      I want to grow as a musician and represent as a minority in the musical space.

·      Consistent discovery and rediscovery

·      Relevance meaning what’s important today. Music should continue to be important today.

·      Stay connected to the music and share with the community

·      Music should be an anchor in community and life.

·      A timeless influence that adds meaning to our modern lives.

·      Intergenerational families. Learning (plus fun)

·      Community

·      SCO matters to connect the community with music

·      Empathy

·      To show others that anyone can play music

·      Relevance to me means we are changing something – mood, outlook, behavior – in ourselves and others through music.

·      It gives people of all ages and backgrounds a safe place to express themselves and escape the mundane cycle of everyday life J

·      Emotional connection

·      Relevance is about including the best of ourselves

·      A fun orchestra

·      People are what makes music relevant, what connection do we have with the music – emotional, identity, place based. We must know the story in order to create relevance in our lives beyond showing up and playing notes.

·      Relevance is when something is important to you and this ensemble is important to everyone here, or else they wouldn’t be here, so it is also relevant.

·      What’s relevant for me is being able to find friends and bring beautiful music to life at the same time – the world needs to listen to amazing music right now.

·      Community and purpose

·      Community mentorship

·      Today relevance meaning music that relates to what’s going on in life right now.

·      Music that brings people together and creates community.

·      Personal and community – fulfillment

·      Relevance is why people care

·      Joy in learning process. Growing in a community

·      Relevance brings people together

·      Relevance is awareness of the community you are trying to serve. How do you meet these needs? ***

·      Presence and Present – ness

·      I love playing with the mix of pros and students.

·      Belonging and representation

·      Music makes me happy J

·      Human connection. Celebrating something REAL. Wabi-sabi? (from Google - Wabi-sabi is a traditional Japanese worldview and aesthetic centered on finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness)

·      Relevance in Music means connecting with our audiences in a way that matters to them.

·      Doing something that makes people show up and be in community.

·      Relevant to today’s time. Music that move people can relate and understand. Diversify Music.

·      Community and growth