New Jackson Heights Orchestra will add "class, diversity" to Jackson Heights

Image source: NY Daily News

The NY Daily News reports that a retired music educator – and long-time Jackson Heights resident – Patricia Glunt is launching the Jackson Heights Orchestra. With more than two-dozen local musicians, Glunt’s vision is to feature “local talent and composers.” Glunt also said “Jackson Heights is growing as a cultural community. The time is right.”

The community orchestra received some backing from the Jackson Heights Beautification Group, who gave Glunt $500 in seed money. The group’s president, Edwin Westley, said that the group “just thought it was a terrific idea. We have a lot of untapped talent in the neighborhood – especially musical talent.” He added that the orchestra is “another building block in establishing a world-class neighborhood.”

Local City Councilman Daniel Dromm is also supporting the orchestra, saying “It will bring notoriety, it will bring class, it will bring [cultural] diversity to the neighborhood.” Alex Lauren, president of the board of the Astoria Music Society – the organization behind the Astoria Symphony Orchestra – added that “there’s a younger, more artsy crowd moving into Queens… there will be more demand for performing arts.”

Auditions for the orchestra are being held on September 11, 12, and 18^th. It should be noted that this is not a paying gig.

Retired music educator launches Jackson Heights Orchestra [NYDN]