In an e-mail sent last week to Dean of the Conservatory of Music Brian Pertl, Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies David Becker expressed concern about the time conflict between Sunday’s Lawrence Symphony Orchestra concert and the much-anticipated NFC championship game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears.
The concert, originally scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sunday, has been moved to 12:30 p.m. and will still be held in Memorial Chapel.
The high stakes football game between longtime rivals will undoubtedly draw a massive viewing audience from northeast Wisconsin, something that Becker is concerned “would seriously diminish an audience for the LSO concert.”
Becker noted that he “[had] already received numerous emails from students, faculty and the community about this conflict.”
“I realize that there may not be an appropriate compromise for this conflict,” Becker wrote. “But I feel that it would be irresponsible for the LSO Music Director to not at least explore some alternatives.”
Students expressed mixed reactions to the rescheduling but generally agreed that the decision was a positive one. Co-concertmaster David Rubin stated, “I have no problem with the concert being rescheduled. It makes sense in this part of the country. I don’t like daytime concerts in general, so 12:30 or 3. it makes no difference to me.”
Senior oboist Kelsey Burk supported the decision to change the start time. “Anything that allows more people to be able to come and hear the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra is a good decision, in my opinion,” she said.
Burk feels that the concert time change will allow more publicity for the performance. She exclaimed, “Now the concert is getting way more hype, and I can actually watch the game, too!”
Burk urges Packers fans, Bears fans and any other kinds of fans to attend Sunday’s concert. “The programming of this concert is incredible,” she explained. “There is so much variety, and I know everyone who goes will surely be entertained.
LSO concert rescheduled due to conflict with Bears-Packers game
