Bringing classical music to the Bush
Gordon Wright Portrait, Barry McWayne photo
Courtesy of Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra
In 1970, living in Bush ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and listening to live classical music didn't usually go together.
With that in mind, the newly formed Arctic Chamber Orchestra and its conductor, Gordon Wright, developed a bold but simple idea. They decided to tour villages throughout the state, giving rural ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñns a rare opportunity to witness a performance of Bach, Britten or Boccherini.
"We take them the best of our music in the spirit of sharing, not to preach the gospel," said Wright, then a ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ assistant professor of music. The musicians, many of them ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ students and faculty, donated their time and talents.
The ACO, which is the touring ensemble of the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, traveled more than 20,000 miles to 30 communities from 1970-1974. The New York Times later summarized the effort in Wright's 2007 obituary, calling it a "tour to musically bereft towns throughout the state, traveling on school buses, boats, seaplanes and even dog sleds. Concert dress sometimes included parkas."
The quirky and ambitious tour didn't only provide ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ communities with live music. It also acquainted the public with ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ offerings and worked to stimulate young people to pursue an interest in serious music.
ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ newspapers described the tour as "a rural hit" and "a dream come true." At the conclusion of the tour, the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Legislature commended Wright and the ACO "for their community spirit and their dedication to the arts in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ."
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