A2SO hopes to broaden audience with David Archuleta Christmas concert on Friday
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra will team up with “American Idol” singer David Archuleta on Friday night for a concert titled “Christmas From the Heart” at Hill Auditorium.
The concert is in support of Archuleta’s new, Yule-themed CD of the same name. Tickets went on sale at the end of October, and more than one-third of Hill’s available 3,500 seats sold out in the first week, attracting fans from as far away as San Francisco.
The concert, an addition to the symphony’s regular season, is a bit unusual since the performing arts have been among those especially hard-hit by the economy.
“Where other orchestras are cutting concerts to balance budgets, we’re adding a concert,” said Dave Siefkes, the A2SO marketing director. “Symphonies around the country are all trying different things, they are more willing to look beyond the traditional. … The thing that drove it for me was trying to get a broader audience.”
In addition to Christmas songs, Archuleta’s program will include his hit, “Crush,” as well as “Zero Gravity” and a few other non-holiday tunes. The symphony will offer “Sleigh Ride” and a selection from the “Nutcracker,” Siefkes added, “but mostly it’s David.”
The symphony is partnering with Radio Disney for the show, a first for both organizations that could include two more concerts in future years, said Siefkes. The score for the Ann Arbor performance was done by Disney especially for the show.
“They had some small scores for his Christmas album, but nothing like this,” Siefkes added. “It was a learning process for them. They basically orchestrated everything for us. It has never been performed before.”
Siefkes said work on the Archuleta concert started last January with a sales call. “Radio Disney called on me trying to sell me some advertising. I had a great talk with their rep. It turned into me saying ‘You know, the symphony should do a concert with Disney.’ One of my ideas was we could perform the music live to ‘Fantasia.’”
Disney’s Detroit general manager came to Ann Arbor, heard the symphony perform, and was sold.
“They came out and saw the quality of the product,” Siefkes explained. The only thing that remained was to decide what to do. A brainstorming session followed.
“I’m a big ‘American Idol’ fan,” Siefkes admitted. David Archuleta was one name I threw out. They brought up other names, like Taylor Swift. I brought up Miley Cyrus. Miley was very expensive, Taylor was even more expensive.”
Although younger people know who Archuleta is, at least one member of the symphony found his generation gap showing.
“When we first told (conductor Arie Lipsky) that we were considering a show with David Archuleta, Arie said ‘Who’s he?’ (Then) all of his sudden his daughter is screaming in the background. And dad’s a rock star now. He’s conducting David Archuleta,” Siefkes said.
Although Siefkes wouldn’t say how much the A2SO had to pay for Archuleta, “this is the most we’re paying for a soloist ever … (but) I think we’ll sell it out.”
Siefkes said the concert will help the A2SO conclude the year on a high note.
“A lot of symphonies are down in attendance and subscriptions. We’re actually up, in fact we set a record this year for subscribers.” The previous record, he said, was 733 subscribers. This year, the A2SO has 963.
Ultimately, the show will be good for the symphony for several reasons.
“Money-wise and exposure-wise and reputation-wise, the fact of being able to work with the Disney company is great, the quality is superior and that was important to them, just like it was important to us,” Siefkes added.
He said the musicians are jazzed about the Christmas show.
“From what I’ve heard they are pretty excited. Some were very sad they were going to be out of town for Thanksgiving. Again, if they’ve got kids, they’re going to be the rock stars — and we’re adding services to the season for them, a chance to perform some more and get paid for it.”
Roger LeLievre is a free-lance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com.
PREVIEW “Christmas from the Heart” Who: Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, with vocalist/“American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta. What: Christmas favorites, plus a few of Archuleta’s pop tunes. Where: Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave. When: Friday, 8 p.m. How much: Tickets start at $23 from the A2SO office and range to $76 for the VIP section with the facility fee included. Tickets purchased online, or by phone have an additional $10 service fee per ticket. Details: A2SO web site; by phone at 734-994-4801 or in person at the A2SO office, 220 East Huron Street Suite 470 (Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Comments
FG
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 7:22 a.m.
Thanks for the article about David. Just want to join the other commenters about David's fanbase. I am also an older fan here to say that David's appeal is universal. He is young but his talent is well beyond his years. This fanbase is very diverse.
carla1591
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 : 12:06 p.m.
Cool info! This concert is gonna be EPIC! LUV Christmas From the Heart album. David's voice just soars!
TrudyFOD
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 : 11:35 a.m.
You are so lucky to be performing with David Archuleta. His voice is amazing and will be amazingly suited to be playing with an orchestra. I so wish I lived closer and could attend this event as I think it's going to be an amazing night for everyone...and what a great way to bring in the holiday season. David is amazing in concert and I've been to a lot of them. I'll be seeing David perform at his holiday concerts when he comes to the northeast next month! I can't wait! David's "Christmas from the Heart" album is awesome and I listen to it just about every day!
cami
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 : 7:38 p.m.
David Archuleta may only be 18 but he appeals to people of all ages. He is an amazing talent!! I wish I could attend the Ann Arbor show because he will sound fantastic with the symphony orchestra. I will be seeing him in Salt Lake City on 11/24/09 with his band. It will be great, but being backed up by a symphony orchestra will only make David's voice sound more amazing!
Becca
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 : 5:04 p.m.
Well surprise! I'm 50! And I'm a DavidArchuleta fan! Your article states that people from all around the country are coming to the concert, now you dont think that tweenies travel around the country to go see a concert? Its the adults that are coming! Yes David does have lots of teen fans but he has an enormous following of fans that are 20-80 yrs old! I am going to SF to see him with my sister(45) daughter (30) and mother (80), see what I mean! David is absolutely this generation's VOICE and thank God,I'm alive to be able to see and hear him! I feel so blessed! I wish I had the money to see him in AnnArbor or I would be there but so many of my friends I had made because of David are going! Thank you for selecting him, you will be amazed at his silky soulful voice
pam05
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 : 1:58 p.m.
FYI; If you go to the A2SO Symphony office to purchase your tickets, you save $10.00 off the handling charge.
PBQUEEN
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 : 1:34 p.m.
I was very excited to see that David Archuleta would be playing with the symphony. However, my joy quickly dissipated when I saw the service charges that accompany EACH ticket. Ticketmaster charges a fee per ticket plus one fee per ticket order. The A2SO was originally charging $24 PER ticket, now $14 per ticket. As such, this makes attending this concert outside the financial reach of most families. Based on the poor ticket sales thus far, the symphony may want to think about lowering the prices or offering two-for-one, simply to fill the seats. If not, Mr. Archuleta will be playing to a beautiful venue only 33% occupied.
Violet
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 : 12:22 p.m.
Interesting article! And I would like to agree with another commenter - David has fans of all ages and I means from children through seniors. I am one of David's adult fans. Some people bring their entire family to David Archuleta concerts and this concert is particularly suited to that. David is kind, humble, unpretentious and he is loved and respected by people of all ages around the world. And his voice is amazing, especially live! Those mono album clips barely hint at the sound of his Christmas album. The arrangements are inventive and David adds his own soulful pop style to many of the songs in a way that is respectful of the original. Everyone is excited about this concert with A2SO. And a lot of David's fans are wishing they lived in Ann Arbor right now! Bring your family to see this concert. It will be wonderful.
pam05
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 : 11:23 a.m.
Just because David is 18, I think people think his fanbase is the strictly young also. But the fact is David Archuleta's fanbase is a mix of ages, he has fans from little kids on up to grandparent's. So if you are a fan of David's and you are an adult, don't feel you need to take a child with you in order to go, you will blend right in the crowd. (But if you have an opportunity to do so, then that would be a real treat for that child) Age has no barriers in his fanbase "-)
sdb
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 : 11:07 a.m.
Thanks for the article. This concert is going to be exquisite, fantastic! people that will be attending this concert are very privileged. David is simply the best!