The Conductor of Collaboration
“Having worked at Jazz at Lincoln Center and now working for the Philadelphia Orchestra, it’s nice working in these nonprofit areas because there is a deep level of concern for what I do.”
Michael Albaugh would be the first to tell you that he loves what he does for a living, and what’s not to love? As the Director of Collaborative Learning for the Philadelphia Orchestra, it’s Michael’s duty to ensure that the Orchestra reaches out to the community and plays music for all to hear in the City of Brotherly Love. From visiting young students in places like Overbrook School for the Blind, to providing free concerts all over the city, the Philadelphia Orchestra realizes the importance of getting young people interested in the arts and excited about the promise of music.
“We want to be more than just an orchestra; we want to be more than just being somebody in a hall. We want to break down those barriers and try to transform a different cultural understanding. Knowing that I get to be a part of that and help to drive that initiative forward...that’s the best part of this job.”
The WVU Alumni Association team joined Michael for a free concert at The Philadelphia Eagles NovaCare Complex, which was presented as part of a partnership between the Philadelphia Orchestra’s HEAR (Health,Education, Access, and Research) Initiative and the Philadelphia Eagles Autism Challenge. The sensory-friendly concert provided a safe and casual space for all to enjoy music while children were encouraged to dance and express themselves freely as the Orchestra played well-known pieces.
“We want inclusion to be a part of everything we do, so with that in mind we felt it would be great to establish a partnership where we could bring the Orchestra down here (to the NovaCare Complex) and open the facility to the community… a great way to celebrate South Philly.”
Having grown up in West Virginia, Albaugh became a Doctor of Musical Arts at West Virginia University in 2004 and says there couldn’t have been a better place to have finished his education.
“I wear the Gold and Blue with pride. There are so many alumni in Philadelphia and New Jersey and I love when I see someone else with the(flying) wv,” said Albaugh, “I was born and raised in West Virginia and I still have Mountaineer pride in my blood.”
The Philadelphia Orchestra presented a sensory-friendly Free Neighborhood Concert at the Philadelphia Eagles's NovaCare Complex, March 23, 2019.
Sensory-Friendly Initiatives
As a leader of a cultural arts organization, I am committed to sharing live orchestral and educational experiences with the many diverse communities of Cape Cod, both on and off the stage. In an effort to make the Cape Symphony truly accessible to all audiences, creating sensory-friendly concerts and events welcoming children and adults with a wide range of cognitive and learning differences is central to my belief in bringing communities together through the arts. My work in Philadelphia showcased my personal goal to create safe and accepting environments where audiences, including those on the autism spectrum and with other developmental challenges, and their families can experience live music together.
Community Commitments
As an artist and musician, I am committed to taking our musicians and educators out of the concert hall and into neighborhoods to share our music through a host of community and educational programs. While in Philadelphia, I created over a dozen community concerts working with local partners like schools, community organizations, and local businesses that serve their communities. Through these partnerships, we were able to engage with local residents to help identify the type of programming most meaningful to their community, and create lasting relationships. This curatorial work involved selections of repertoire, educational and participatory program elements, location, dates, etc...ultimately, to develop ongoing relationships with these new audiences. To achieve this on the Cape, our goal is to provide appealing and demonstrative orchestral programming that supports the community's interests and priorities. Curating such programming will create meaningful relationships that will grow and guide how the Symphony works to engage local residents and support our community. Below is a sampling of my work in the Philadelphia neighborhoods, and what I am committed to bringing to Cape Cod.