SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will debut a new smartphone application at their 75th Anniversary Season Opening Night Gala Concert on Saturday, September 22 at Symphony Hall. Available for Android and iPhone users, the application called XXGlenn will provide easily accessible information about the evening’s concert and improve the popular text-based Real Time Concert Notes program.
“Fellow Longmeadow resident Alexander Hulbert and I have created a publishing platform that the SSO will use as a conduit directly into their patrons’ hands to inform and enlighten in an accessible way,” says Ali Fazeli, XXGlenn co-creator and member of the SSO Board of Directors.
In addition to extra content and easily accessible information specific to the evening’s programs, XXGlenn will be the new platform for patrons to experience the text-based Real Time Concert Notes program that debuted at the Opening Night Concert of their 2017 – 2018 season.
Originally, Real Time Concert Notes was developed by Commerce High School Director of Bands and SSO board member Matt Bertuzzi for the Meet the Musicians: High School Edition educational program that brings area high school students into Symphony Hall to experience a live SSO open rehearsal.
Instead of receiving text messages throughout the performance, patrons attending concerts this season will log on to the XXGlenn smartphone app to receive the real-time text updates about the piece being played during the second half of the evening’s program. The application is optimized to darken the screen and quiet notifications during concert time so as to not disturb other patrons.
“This wonderfully simple new tool provides a uniquely engaging element to the concert experience,” says Kirsten Lipkens, Education Director and Music Librarian at the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. “Patrons can enjoy reading on their phone about our season and our musicians during intermission. Then, when the music starts, patrons will be given notes about musical moments as they occur.”
Concert-goers can visit the information table in the lobby of Symphony Hall before the 75th Anniversary Season Opening Night Gala Concert begins to learn more about XXGlenn, download the app to their phone and elevate their concert-night experience.
