Written by Cole Mihalich. Photo by Cole Mihalich.
During a sunny April weekend, members of the Savannah Philharmonic filled the air with music. Crowds of locals gathered around the musicians at Tanger Outlets, Victory Heights and Chippewa Square. From Gershwin to The Beatles, a sextet of Savannah Philharmonic [Savannah Phil] members entertained and inspired at their seasonal Phil The Neighborhood event.
“Phil the Neighborhood started in 2020, when outdoor concerts had become not just popular, but necessary,” says Keitaro Harada, Music Director of the Savannah Philharmonic. Harada, who is usually leading on the podium, had the opportunity to view the event as an audience member.
In 2020, Phil the Neighborhood first played, perched on a balcony above Chippewa Square, at Raltson College’s newest campus building. “We’ve gone to close to fifteen different locations now. From people’s backyards to the mall. It’s a free event that helps spread live music to many different people.”
Each event was packed, with the Chippewa Square concert drawing fifty-plus attendees. Some set up picnic blankets and brought food, while others, on their way to another destination, stopped by to listen to the music.
Missed the event? The Savannah Philharmonic has a lot coming up, from its seasonal concerts, such as its upcoming opening night “Romantic Rachmaninoff” and soon-to-come “Beethoven’s Ninth” as well as their free public events, which Harada encouraged students to attend.
“Our season picks back up again in August. One of the biggest events we host is our Phil The Park event, the first Saturday of October. The full orchestra plays in Forsyth Park all evening, often to an audience of about twenty-five thousand. We hope to see everyone there.”
Cole Mihalich is a Contributing Editor at SCAD District. He is a senior majoring in Film and Television, and minoring in Dramatic Writing. When not writing for District, he can be found writing for other things, reading, or watching paint dry.
