It’s not unusual for two orchestras to appear together, especially when one is a youth orchestra playing alongside an adult ensemble. I’ve also seen multiple college orchestras band together to tackle big works like Rite of Spring or the Mahler symphonies. These projects are NOT easy to pull off (and nearly impossible when more than one conductor is involved)

One close colleague of mine is in the midst of just such a project- a side by side with a YO and a SO (the two organizations actually have similar budgets). As sometimes happens, the partnership is highlighting the relative strengths of the two organizations in ways that should give one group pause….

 I offer this quote both for it’s intrinsic humor and as a thought to ponder for an organization tempted to go down the path of the second orchestra in this scenario…

can i just say for the reord to blow off steam- that the _SO folks are some of the classiest poeple i know and the _YO poeple- i will NEVER stick my neck out for them AGAIN!!!!!!! they have stuck the _SO with every bill, every job, every thing….such an utter lack of class I have NEVER wittnessed in my life…i am beyond horrified at this point- just numb………………………………….but i mean, really- at a certain point what does one say???? if you are raised in a barn i guess you just do act like an animal….