A Night on the Town, for Credit

Orchestral music is almost omnipresent in our entertainment landscape-it forms the basis of movie soundtracks, video game soundtracks, and musical theater, and it even inspires iconic pop songs.

But when was the last time you had the chance to sit down and solely focus on the orchestra, the musicians, and the instruments?

For Trinity University students, the "Nights at the Symphony" course has got them covered.

Taught by music professor Carl Leafstedt, Ph.D., MUSC 1344, or "Nights at the Symphony," gives Trinity students class credit for attending symphony concerts in downtown San Antonio.

"Good concerts. New music. Nights out on the town-for credit. What's not to like?" Leafstedt says.

The course originated in 2016. Leafstedt and his fellow music faculty wanted to create a new, hands-on course that would take advantage of Trinity's location in a major metropolitan area.

Though it's a music class, students don't need to have musical experience to take part in "Nights at the Symphony." Students of all backgrounds are encouraged to join the class, and Leafstedt ensures that the course feels engaging for all students, no matter their level of musical experience.

"Dr. Leafstedt creates a wonderfully open and welcoming atmosphere for students who might not have a history in music or attending orchestra concerts while still keeping it engaging for the musicians in the room," says Samantha Sandal '24, a percussionist in Trinity's Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble.

Throughout the semester, students get the chance to watch six to seven orchestra concerts around San Antonio. Most concert tickets are offered at a deeply reduced price, and some concerts are even free. To help prepare them for the concerts, Leafstedt familiarizes his students with the music, guest artists, and conductors for the upcoming show.

After attending the concerts, the students are required to write concert reviews, which constitute the majority of their grades in the course.

"I am no stranger to music, but being able to first learn about the history of the pieces and then listen for particular moments of interest during the performance just makes the entire symphony experience more exciting as you find yourself catching things that you would never have noticed before," Sandal says.

Through lectures and readings in arts management, the course also touches on the business of running a modern orchestra. "I served on the board of the San Antonio Symphony, which exposed me to the business side of running a large nonprofit organization," Leafstedt says. "I integrate discussions about nonprofit management into the course, giving students a different view of what they're seeing."

After the San Antonio Symphony went bankrupt in 2022, and within months the San Antonio Philharmonic was up and running as its successor organization. "We are getting to watch as they rebuild a cultural centerpiece of the city," Sandall says. "It has been fun getting to explore what constitutes an orchestra, from the instruments to the behind-the-scenes directorial work and how symphonies are formed and operated."

Ultimately, Leafstedt hopes this course will remind his students that classical music is for everyone, not just musicians or conductors. "Everyone in the course will take something different away from the experience. Some will become Mahler or Beethoven fans or suddenly develop an interest in cello music. Some will simply enjoy the opportunity to explore downtown San Antonio more. My goal is to create lifelong learners who don't find the concert hall intimidating."

Want to attend a symphony concert? Check out upcoming events for your local symphony, or visit events.trinity.edu for upcoming concerts by Trinity's ensembles.

In the above collage, Samantha Sandal '24 (left) and Madison Reich '24 attend a San Antonio Philharmonic performance for their "Nights at the Symphony" course.