Each season TSO ushers play a key role off stage, orchestrating a smooth patron experience before the first note is played. “Our wonderful ushers greet audiences on their arrival at a concert, and it is their warm welcome that sets the tone for the experience our patrons are about to enjoy. We are so blessed that our ushers volunteer their time in support of the TSO’s mission to bring our community through music. We applaud and thank them,” said Paul Meecham, TSO CEO. We recently sat down with two of our extraordinary ushers to ask them what drew them to volunteer with the TSO, their favorite part of being an usher and more.
Linda Down first joined the TSO ushers in 2016 after retiring from teaching elementary school. Down keeps busy and also volunteers for Reid Park Zoo, Therapeutic Riding of Tucson, Arizona Theatre Company and Centennial Hall. In prior years she held season tickets to the orchestra but as time went on fewer and fewer of her friends attended with her. Ushering has given her community outside her usual friend group with a shared love of the symphony. “My favorite part of ushering is definitely the people, and it’s not just the patrons, it’s the staff and the other ushers because all of us are interested in the same things. On top of the feeling you get from helping the patrons, it’s really great.”
She particularly enjoys ushering the Young Composers Festival each year and helping patrons who are new to the TSO. “It gives you a good feeling when, for example, you get a crowd that is unfamiliar with the TSO, usually for a movie concert or something like that, and they stay till the very end and give the orchestra a standing ovation. You know that they’re not a group that’s familiar with the orchestra but can see how much people really love the music. I always think that’s inspiring.”
Zoe Weintraub, one of the newest and youngest ushers, played clarinet in high school and college. “I was very involved in band; it was a highlight of my education. Once I graduated, I lost that involvement but realized that I did not want to be involved as a musician anymore. One day I saw a poster at the library looking for volunteer ushers with the TSO and I thought that would be a great opportunity to be involved again.”
One of the perks of ushering is that during a performance ushers are invited to sit and enjoy the concert once they ensure that all patrons are comfortable in place, but they must always be aware of the audience. Sometimes they assist patrons during a performance, discreetly seating late comers or quietly opening doors for patrons heading out to the lobby so as not to disturb the musicians or the other audience members.
While for Weintraub the greatest draw to ushering was the opportunity to attend performances, she was pleasantly surprised by the community she found. “There are no other ushers around my age but everyone I have ushered with has been very nice and I get along well with them. I have also gotten close with several of the TSO staff members which has been great!”
Interested in joining the TSO ushers?
Contact Alissa Shear at ashear@tucsonsymphony.org