January 29, 2021
Covenant Health will provide COVID-19 testing for Knoxville Symphony Orchestra musicians and personnel, so that the symphony’s 2020-21 season can safely resume in February.
The testing, which will be done throughout the season at the Physician’s Plaza on the Parkwest Medical Center campus in Knoxville, is sponsored by Covenant Health, a community-owned health system providing comprehensive services in 23 East Tennessee counties.
“We wanted to help the KSO make its upcoming rehearsals and performances as safe as possible,” said Jim VanderSteeg, CEO of Covenant Health. “Giving back is a core principle of Covenant Health, as is the overall health of the communities we serve. This sponsorship helps the musicians get back on stage and back to work and brings live music back to the community.”
The KSO is scheduled to perform Igor Stravinsky’s neoclassical theatre piece “The Soldier’s Tale” via livestream from the Bijou Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 7, as part of the Chamber Classics series. It will be the first KSO performance since the orchestra had to halt operations last March because of the pandemic. Details can be found at www.knoxvillesymphony.com.
“As a nonprofit, we rely on the community for support,” KSO Executive Director Rachel Ford said. “The generosity of Covenant Health means our musicians and staff can have peace of mind as we prepare to perform. The KSO is so grateful for the support and sponsorship, and we look forward to making live music once again.”
Orchestra musicians and personnel will be tested for 16 weeks for a total of 560 tests donated by Covenant Health.
In addition to “The Soldier’s Tale,” the KSO has livestreams planned in February with the Q Series’ Principal Quartet and Woodwind Quintet on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Bijou Theatre; News Sentinel Pop Series’ “Ragtime Kings” on Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Tennessee Theatre; and Moxley Carmichael Masterworks Series’ “Appalachian Spring” on Thursday, Feb. 18, at the Tennessee Theatre.
To receive updates from the Symphony, visit knoxvillesymphony.com and sign up for the newsletter. Follow the KSO on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/knoxsymphony and www.facebook.com/KnoxSymphony.
About the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
Led by Music Director Aram Demirjian, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra consists of 80 professional musicians and performs 300 programs throughout the region each season, reaching audiences of more than 200,000 people. The KSO performs in traditional venues such as the Tennessee Theatre, Bijou Theatre, and Civic Auditorium, as well as non-traditional places like hospitals, schools, city parks, and churches. For more information regarding the KSO, please visit www.knoxvillesymphony.com or call 865-291-3310.
