Image source: NY Daily News

The NY Daily News reports that a retired music educator – and long-time Jackson Heights resident – Patricia Glunt is launching the Jackson Heights Orchestra. With more than two-dozen local musicians, Glunt’s vision is to feature “local talent and composers.” Glunt also said “Jackson Heights is growing as a cultural community. The time is right.”

The community orchestra received some backing from the Jackson Heights Beautification Group, who gave Glunt $500 in seed money. The group’s president, Edwin Westley, said that the group “just thought it was a terrific idea. We have a lot of untapped talent in the neighborhood – especially musical talent.” He added that the orchestra is “another building block in establishing a world-class neighborhood.”

Local City Councilman Daniel Dromm is also supporting the orchestra, saying “It will bring notoriety, it will bring class, it will bring [cultural] diversity to the neighborhood.” Alex Lauren, president of the board of the Astoria Music Society – the organization behind the Astoria Symphony Orchestra – added that “there’s a younger, more artsy crowd moving into Queens… there will be more demand for performing arts.”

Auditions for the orchestra are being held on September 11, 12, and 18th. It should be noted that this is not a paying gig.

Retired music educator launches Jackson Heights Orchestra [NYDN]


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