Symphony All Smiles After Survey

Sun., Aug. 6, 2000

By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

The Spokane Symphony commissioned a survey from Robinson Research about public perceptions of the symphony, and the results have the people at the symphony office smiling.

Among other things, the survey shows that public perceptions of the symphony are overwhelmingly positive and that most people feel it “compares favorably with its counterparts in far bigger cities.”

It’s nice to know that even people who don’t attend recognize how lucky this city is to have such a symphony.

“For me, though, the thing that astounded me the most was that 50 percent of the people had heard the symphony,” said Annie Matlow, the symphony’s new director of marketing. “Not heard of the symphony — but actually heard the symphony. I would have been happy with 25 percent, but 50 percent knocked my socks off.”

That’s an exceptionally strong community presence, since symphony orchestras are not exactly part of the mass entertainment machine.

But the survey also shows some challenges for the symphony. Many people said they don’t subscribe because of cost and time constraints.

So Matlow said the symphony will be coming up with some ticket packages that are cheaper and more flexible. Keep an eye out for some good deals coming soon.

The Fox effect

By the way, the same survey suggested that the Fox Theater will be a healthy draw for the symphony, if the deal to purchase it goes through.

The vast majority of those surveyed agreed with the statement, “I would like to see Symphony concerts in the newly renovated Fox Theater.”

Watch for swordplay

If you see a bunch of people dressed in medieval costumes and whaling away with swords at the Arbor Crest Winery later this week, do not be alarmed.

This is merely a new local company, Cord Productions, shooting an instructional sword-combat video featuring F. Braun McAsh, one of the world masters of stage and film combat.

He was the swordmaster of the “Highlander” TV show for four seasons, and he will serve in the same capacity for the new “Highlander” movie coming out this fall.

This project is the brainchild of Gary Williams, a Cheney apartment house manager who has been interested in sword combat for years. When he realized that there were no instructional videos for beginning students, he formed Cord Productions and plans to make a series of five different videos.

He got McAsh, a Canadian, interested in the project. The first video will begin filming on Monday in indoor locations in Spokane. The finale will be filmed outdoors, in full costume at Arbor Crest’s Cliff House, toward the end of the week.

Good smiting, lads. Don’t crack your claymore.

KPBX cleans up

In case you didn’t realize that KPBX-FM (Spokane Public Radio, 91.1) is a national-class public radio station, here’s some evidence from the Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, which presented their national awards in Washington, D.C. last weekend.

KPBX won three first-place awards in this contest, more than any other station in KPBX’s category (middle-sized). In fact, only one other station in the entire contest won three awards, and that was a little station in New York named WNYC, the most listened-to public radio station in America.

KPBX’s first-place awards were for:

Weekly Program: “Art a la Carte,” produced by Marty Demarest and Ann Colford.

Series/Documentary: “Earth Day,” produced by Doug Nadvornick, Patrick Klausen, Joe Zupan and hosted by Jaqueline Almdale.

Commentary/Essay: “I Am Joe’s Cell Phone,” a column which first appeared in The Spokesman-Review, produced for radio by Nadvornick.

The station also won a first-place award in 1998, so it has now won four in three years.

Cosby ticket update

Plenty of tickets for Bill Cosby are still available, but Mr. Spotlight’s advice is to get your Fat Albert in gear if you don’t want to be left out.

This show is being held in the Spokane Arena’s smaller Star Theatre configuration. We have it on good authority from our box office sources that this show is highly likely to sell out by the time it rolls around on Sept. 16.

Sandpoint tickets

Speaking of tickets, none of the shows at The Festival at Sandpoint are sold out, either, but I also have it on good authority that a number of those upcoming shows are also selling briskly.

Call (888) 265-4554 for tickets and info.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.