'What does the future hold for our symphony orchestras?

Yesterday's conversation with our fellows left me wondering what America's musical landscape will look like 10 years from now.  Among other things, we discussed the role of the symphony orchestra and the relevance of programming symphonies in their entirety.  How might the music industry evolve if we only had four or five professional orchestras in the US?  Would pick-up orchestras fill in the gap in smaller cities and towns?  Would we participate via "digital concert halls"?  Would we even notice the absence of live orchestral music made by members of our smaller communities?  

I just tried to respond to the questions I posed above, and after 20 minutes, I deleted everything.  These are challenging questions to answer, and I'm not brave enough to respond in any meaningful way. Perhaps this sort of sweeping institutional change could make room for a more diverse array of performing ensembles that may appeal to a broader subset of Americans?  I am inclined to think that it could, but only if we encourage innovative thinking and community engagement throughout all stages of life, and if we find a way to re-prioritize applied music education in primary and secondary schools.

Scott captured this shot of us mid-discussion, and here is another of me en route to the Amalfi Coast during a day trip last Sunday.  I post this because there is no other way to convey how beautiful the weather has been every day of my visit.

-Melanie