Director Spigelman connects symphony, community

Collaboration - not competition - is the answer to succeeding in an economy that has nearly every business operating "as a nonprofit," Ron Spigelman says.

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra musical director was the featured guest this morning at Springfield Business Journal's 12 People You Need to Know breakfast at the Clarion Hotel's Newsroom Café.

The symphony has seen some effects of the economy but has managed to stay strong amid increasing competition for discretionary dollars, Spigelman said. He's working to encourage collaboration among organizations because, he says, money given to one group can benefit others.

For instance, a symphony sponsorship helps fund the orchestra's community outreach program, which provides free music services for organizations such as Family Violence Center. Spigelman also pointed to the recently revealed Arts Programming Sustainability Initiative, which brings local organizations under one umbrella for event planning, education and fundraising.

Spigelman was born in England, raised in Australia and moved to the U.S. in search of a larger musical scene. He has had stints with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet, the San Angelo Symphony and the Texas Chamber Orchestra.

Now in his fifth season with the Springfield Symphony, Spigelman has doubled its audience size and grown its season ticket-holder retention rate to 95 percent. He says he has done so by working to carve a niche for the orchestra in a culture that offers an endless list of things to do.

"The arts are still trying to catch up," he said. "It's a question of becoming relevant."

In particular, the Springfield community would benefit from an infusion of jazz, he said, noting the absence of nightclubs or restaurants that feature the American style of music.

"Jazz is missing from this community - and I mean real jazz," he said. "It's an art form I'm worried about."

Spigelman said he considers his position in the community one of privilege, not power, and his goal for every concert is to make a place better than it was before. His motto: "I'm always just getting started."

"No matter how many times I conduct Beethoven's (Fifth Symphony), it's still exciting," he said.