By Aaron Brand

Texarkana Gazette

Involvement with the League of American Orchestras seems to be paying dividends for the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.

TSO’s executive director, Andrew Clark, has been tapped to become co-chair of one of the league’s advisory committees. And a winter conference has armed TSO with knowledge about how the economy is affecting orchestras of all budget sizes.

The League of American Orchestras serves as an advocacy and service organization, as well as a provider of professional development for orchestras all across the country.

“The league does a lot to advocate the role of a professional musician, the role of an arts manager through orchestra and just the value of the orchestra to American society,” Clark said.

The TSO is a part of Advisory C Groups 7 and 8. Before becoming co-chair, Clark had been secretary of that committee. Advisory C is the division for orchestras with a budget of less than $500,000.

Economic hard times was one subject orchestra members discussed during a January meeting. Clark said orchestra programs the size of TSO seem to be more nimble than larger orchestras in handling changing economic realities.

“Advisory C orchestras tend to be able to turn around and move faster than the big boys do,” Clark said.

Not depending on endowment interest also serves TSO well, he said.

“A lot of discussion had to do with the big orchestras already in some financial difficulties because they heavily depend upon their endowments and their endowments have lost money,” he said. “Whereas most Advisory C orchestras, like the Texarkana Symphony, don’t have endowments or at the very most have small investment accounts but not large, multimillion-dollar endowments that have lost a lot of money.”

Clark said so far he hasn’t noticed the economy having an effect on Texarkana’s orchestra.

“This has been a better year for us or at least right on an even keel,” he said, noting the Christmas concert sold out. “I think artistically and musically the orchestra came a long way this season.”

Clark said when the economy is troubled, orchestras must depend more heavily upon volunteers and board members than they might traditionally do.

While orchestras in other cities are wrestling with how to make that happen, Clark reports, “we’re doing fine in that regard.”

Another plus to TSO’s involvement in the League of American Orchestras, he noted, is the exposure it gives TSO.

“It’s a great opportunity, and one of the reasons why I agreed to do it was to put Texarkana’s name and the Texarkana Symphony’s name out there on a national scope,” Clark said.