The rebranding starts with a new logo, created by local firm Tucker Publishing.
It features the lower case ‘e’ and ‘p’ — with the ‘O’ visualized by concentric, colored crescents — each representing a different facet of the EPO — the orchestra itself — the Chorus, the Youth Orchestra and the Guild.
“The collective result is a balanced cohesive cadence of enlightenment and movement,” said Laura Mathis with Tucker publishing, interpreting the logo and sharing its inspiration at the Friday afternoon news conference. “It invites the audience in and produces a unified message that amplifies the Evansville Philharmonic family as a whole, the sound waves become the sound of our city.”
Said Kimberly Bredemeier, executive director, “our mission is to transform lives, and uplift the community through the power of music. And to do that, we're valuing excellence, creativity and innovation, education, collaboration and engagement, diversity and inclusion, legacy and financial stability.”
Music Director Roger Kalia said the new logo and rebranding doesn’t represent a major change in the EPO’s paradigm.
“We're still continuing a lot of the traditional offerings still, but what we're doing more now than ever is going out into the community,” he said. “We're doing more concerts outside of the Victory Theater.”
This includes the uncorked series and concerts at breweries and community centers.
“… we're removing this invisible barrier. I think we're doing more or interacting more like just personal engagement.”
He said they do take best practices and audience and musician experiences and move them forward.
“If things do work, like our Musicians' Choice concert, you do it again and expand it in a new way,” he said.
The new season begins in September with featured violinists and siblings Timothy and Nikki Chooi, and overall, includes a lot of great classical-leaning concerts.
But on October 14, the EPO will take their pop offerings one step further with the "Universe of Superheroes" performance featuring musical scores from superhero and video-game films — think Wonder Woman, Transformers and Super Mario Brothers.
Kalia said you can and should dress up.
“It's right around Halloween — dress up as your favorite character. I'll be on stage dressed up; like how many times can you say that as a conductor that you're going to dress up on the podium — not often.”
Kalia is looking forward to both the Chooi brothers and the pop concerts.
With the new logo also comes a new website and a colorful upcoming season trailer, produced by Cinephreak Pictures.
2023-24 season highlights
Opening night
Double Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra, featuring violinists Timothy and Nikki Chooi
Sat. Sept. 30, 2023, 7 p.m.
Universe of Superheroes
Performances of musical scores from movies such as 'The Black Panther,' 'Spider Man,' 'The legend of Zelda' and others
Sat. Oct. 14, 2023, 7 p.m.
Musician Showcase
Featuring EPO musicians as soloists over four classical pieces
Sun. Nov. 5, 2023, 4 p.m.
Peppermint Pops
Classic holiday music selections featuring vocalist Dan Domenech along with the Chorus, Children's Choir, North High School Huskettes
Two nights — Sat, Dec. 2, 2023, 7 p.m.; Sun. Dec. 3, 2023, 2 p.m.
The Three B's
Concert pieces by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, featuring Jon Nakamatsu, piano
Sat. Jan. 20, 2024, 7 p.m.
Back to the 80s
Pop hits from the 1980s such as Madonna, Queen, Joe Cocker
Sat, Feb. 17, 2024, 7 p.m.
An Evening of beloved Arias and Songs
Selections include famous arias and song by Verdi, Puccini, Bernstein, Bizet and more with EPO and Chorus
Sat. Feb. 24, 2024, 7 p.m.
Simply Swingin,'Great American Crooners
Guest vocalist Steve Lippia performs with the EPO and big band to Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Bobby Darin and others
Sun. March 17, 2024 2 p.m.
Louis Armstrong and Friends
Byron Stripling conducts this jazzy tribute to 'the great American songbook' in the spirit of Louis Armstrong. Features vocalist Carmen Bradford
Sat. April 6, 2024, 7 p.m.