Sound Systems

What is the future of the orchestra? Classical music institutions across the United States are facing challenges of relevance, access, representation, and sustainability. Can we reimagine orchestras as vibrant spaces for connection, shared learning, and exploring new modes of creative expression, without compromising their role as purveyors of rich aesthetic experiences? How can these institutions be truly responsive to the needs of their communities, and truly in service to the people around them?

This book features original speculative fiction stories and visual art, alongside essays from musicians, music educators, arts leaders, activists, and scholars, including thinkers from the fields of civil engineering, learning science, and public health. Contributors consider possible futures for U.S. orchestras through four lenses, each of which brings into focus different social functions, goals, and resources: Orchestra as Game, Orchestra as Infrastructure, Orchestra as Network, and Orchestra as Public Good.