Quarter Notes

All BSAV volunteers demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm in their roles at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, but Carol Brown and John Halpin have taken it to another level. During the past year, both Carol and John accumulated well over 100 hours of service, on each campus! Carol signed up for over 250 hours last season, and John over 550 hours!

Carol Brown, a recently retired university professor and former flautist, began her service as a tour guide in 2016 at Symphony Hall, an easy commute from her home in Cleveland Circle, and in 2019 added Tanglewood, close her summer home in the Berkshires. Rising through the ranks, she became the project lead for the Tour Guide program at Symphony Hall, and last season helped implement the pre-concert tours for Saturday evening and Casual Friday ticketholders, which have been very successful. Carol says some of her favorite tour-takers are students who are instrumentalists in high school music groups. At Tanglewood, she also is a very active tour guide and usher. Carol also has volunteered for mailings, mobile ticketing, and even helped out this summer as a docent for the exhibits in the Tappan House at Tanglewood.

John Halpin, who grew up in Connecticut, was introduced to Tanglewood as a child when he was taken to performances there. He only recently began as a BSAV volunteer after his retirement from a career in industrial and property management in Pawtucket. His first position was also as a host at Symphony Hall before moving onto leading tours in Boston. He also has volunteered for the Fourth of July concerts on the Esplanade and many, many other projects – both at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood – decorating the Hall, tour guide at Tanglewood, usher – you name it, John has probably done it. Erin Asbury, Director of Volunteer Services, has said that John is just one of those people who is there and always ready to help, and many times can see what needs to be done, and just does it. "It can only happen with the insights of the dozens of volunteers who have years of experience and are wiling to share their love and appreciation for the BSO," he says.

One of John’s missions is to bring younger audiences to the BSO, and he acknowledges that everyone comes for different reasons and different experiences. He recalls one day when he had a tour of Tanglewood for a group of students. Their bus was an hour late and they were mainly interested in the string section of the orchestra. Coming out of the Shed, they threw their blankets on the Lawn and just wanted to listen to the music. This reminded John that it is up to the guides to listen to the groups’ priorities and interests.

As the BSO begins its 143^rd season, Carol and John will once again join their fellow BSAV volunteers to provide services to the BSO—and love every minute of it!