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Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra
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Foothills Philharmonic Newsletters

Please download our newsletter today to learn more about all of the exciting things that we have planned for the entire community!

November Newsletter 2024 (pdf)Download
January Newsletter 2025 (pdf)Download

Newsletter Highlights (January 2025)

A Message From Kory

Kory Vrieze, Artistic Director

Kory Vrieze, Artistic Director


Foothills Philharmonic opens the second half of our 25th season with something new –

a Family Concert. Designed for people of all ages to learn about music and how it impacts us, this concert will feature classical favorites, musical surprises and audience participation. Experience engaging works like “Mars” from the “The Planets” and “In the Hall of the Mountain King” as we have fun exploring the orchestra. Great for beginners AND veterans of orchestra music.


Who doesn’t love a story of failure and triumph? In 1897, Sergei Rachmaninoff premiered his very first symphony in St. Petersburg. It was a total and utter disaster. Though most of the problems had to do with the conductor (the maestro, Alexander

Glazunov, was rumored to have been drunk!), Rachmaninoff took the failure to heart and was doubtful that his orchestrations were any good. Indeed, it took him another ten years to produce his Second Symphony. This March, come hear us play Rachmaninoff’s triumphant symphonic return, which is as popular today at it was at its premiere.


We are so happy you are part of the Foothills community, and we look forward to seeing you throughout our 25th anniversary season.


What is unique about Foothills?

Jessica Morgan, concertmaster


The popular Instrument Petting Zoo began in 2017. Kids of all ages crowd the lobby, excited to try out orchestral instruments — their fingers guided by local teachers. And the winner of a drawing gets to conduct the final concert piece! 


In 2016, the first Future Stars Competition was held. High school musicians compete annually for a scholarship and an opportunity to perform with Foothills Philharmonic. Winners have included a clarinetist, a violinist, pianists, and a mandolin player! 


A promise to the audience and to the players, Kory made a commitment to have something for everyone in each and every concert, and he has. From symphonies to pops concerts. Mahler to Motown. 


In February 2020, the orchestra was rehearsing Scheherazade for the March concert, and then Covid struck . . .We were in rehearsal preparing for our next concert when suddenly, our world shut down. It was no longer safe to gather in groups for either rehearsals or concerts. We had no choice but to cancel that concert, and then another, and then the season. When we finally felt safe enough, we rehearsed with chairs safely distanced. Concerts spread the orchestra over the entire floor space as well as the stage. What a challenge it was to hear each other, let alone see the conductor!

Coming Events

The Virtual Performances - Keeping the Music Going During a Pandemic

The Virtual Performances - Keeping the Music Going During a Pandemic

Randy Lee, viola


How does an orchestra play music when you’re apart?

When Covid separated us, we missed the camaraderie. After all, philharmonic means “friends together.“ With live performances suspended and no end in sight, virtual music performances gave us a new way to make music together. 


How did you create it? 

Players recorded alone in their homes, using their computers or phones. Though we couldn't see or hear each other, we listened through headphones

to a designated metronome beat to keep everyone in sync. Kory chose Cole Porter’s Night and Day. We each recorded our own part and then sent our recordings to Kory to edit with special software.


Was it difficult? 

For me, it took a few takes to get to where I was happy with it. Having the ability to go back and fix imperfections is nice to be able to do, but it meant doing the whole thing over each time. So "getting it right" became time consuming but possible.


What was the result? 

The final recording sounded like all the musicians were in the same room, playing together. It sounds great, and it’s a thrill to watch the players on the screen. It was a nice way to fill the gap that not being able to play had created in our lives — and it was a great way to remind our audience that we were still here making music. You can watch the video and see for yourself:

Click to View the Virtual Performance

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  • The 2024-25 Season
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  • Fun Facts
  • The History of Foothills

Foothills Philharmonic

PO Box 3001, Greenville, SC 29602, US

(864) 326-5780

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