Music and More: Sara Penny Blog

By Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President          Abravanel and Alsop are internationally recognized orchestral conductors who shared Utah connections.  Marin Alsop recently received a “Golden Baton” at Abravanel Hall  in Salt Lake City from the League of American Orchestras for her dynamic leadership at the Baltimore Symphony, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and numerous other orchestras.      Her father Keith Lamar Alsop was born in Murray, Utah and was hired by Utah Symphony Director Maurice Abravanel to play violin and bass clarinet at age 17. “Maurice also gave my dad the courage to pursue his musical dreams, and decades later, Maurice became my mentor, alongside Bernstein at Tanglewood,” Alsop said. “One couldn’t hope for a greater role model than Maurice, a profound musician and compassionate human being.”      She was one of the first women to lead a major American orchestra. She sees the current upheaval in th...

  Savoring the Details By Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President       It is hard to see every detail. That ability to hear the nuance of pitch or see the exact details for painting a scene is valued in making art. Choosing the exact word for a poem or the precise dance movement moves art from the mundane to the exquisite.        "People rarely look closely," said Arthur Brooks. "They glance -- and let their brains fill in the rest."  His mother was a professional artist and she taught him to "Look again. Really look." This skill improved his art as he focused on the details, but also his later work as a behavioral scientist.      Savoring "means holding a moment long enough for it to leave a mark," said Brooks. I have thought of that word as enjoying food, as in savoring a garden fresh tomato or strawberry.  The idea of savoring the details for artistic pursuit or for other aspects of life seems useful to me.  ...

  Art of Listening  by Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President      "When people talk, listen completely. Don’t be thinking about what you’re going to say. Most people never listen," said Ernest Hemingway. A large part of any art form is the art of communication, but that also means the art of listening. What are you as an artist trying to communicate? When you go to a museum or a play what message do you hear from the artist?      One of the reasons former students still come up to me about both my husband and mother's teaching impact is because they were both gifted listeners. They made their students and friends feel important because they were intently listening. It was obvious they valued what was being said and their responses demonstrated understanding. They were also both avid readers and were always trying to learn something new.      It is sometimes hard for me to concentrate fully. An art gallery can be overwhelming to ...

by Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President      How do you plan when your major source of income is in jeopardy? This is a question some of the arts organizations have to ask, as well as businesses. "In uncertain conditions, leaders need questions that expand perspective, generate new insight, and spark creativity. The right questions don’t just help you avoid missteps—they open new paths," writes Cheryl Strauss Einhorn. She suggests four questions to clarify moving forward.       1.  What decision today will still make sense a year from now?   This means long term thinking instead of just a reactionary day to day approach. It can also point a path forward out of chaos. "It prioritizes resilience over quick wins and strategy over noise," said Einhorn. Some of our arts organizations may have to scale back a production because of escalating costs. Fortunately our music organizations are good at sharing printed music as it increases in co...

  Reunions to Reconnect by Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President      July is a popular month for family reunions. Connecting the younger children with their family heritage is a daunting task. How do you capture your grandparents and parents in a few words to share?  What do you want your family to remember? What is best forgotten?      I joke I am related to most of Southern Utah from before 1960. My father's family is the Nelsons in Cedar City and my mother's family is the Hafens in St. George. Both families have a plethora of progeny. The best part of reunions for me is visiting with relatives and remembering the past. It is also fun to meet the younger members of the family and hear their stories.      Getting older has the advantage of realizing how much the world has changed and how lucky I am to see it. I started writing this while waiting for the 4th of July parade to start. The parade just started w...

  Galas Galore By Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President       Getting dressed up and having a nice dinner is just the beginning of a successful Gala. Nearly every arts group has some kind of fundraising extravaganza that feels more like a family reunion than a  stuffy ordeal. There is a lot of visiting and laughter as part of the festivities.      Why go to all the extra work?  For a theater group the ticket goal is 50% of costs according to Richard Bugg at the recent RAP (Recreation, Arts and Parks) presentations. That means the leaders have to find that extra 50% to function with grants, sponsors, donations, and fundraising events. If you have to put together an event it should also be fun.       IMPAC recently had their first Gala and I expect it will be another annual event. Every table was decorated for a different musical. I was at the  Guys and Dolls  table which was appropriate since they are presenting th...