QUOTES
“I do think that there is a greater ability perhaps to just sit back and enjoy a journey.” (Stuart)
“We’re living in a world of peaks. You go to see a Marvel movie and every five minutes there’s going to be some kind of crazy thing that stirs you and pumps you with adrenaline. Listening to great music is not that.” (Stuart)
“What we’re doing is creating a landscape of sound and intensity. Yes, you’re going to have your peaks, but then you’re going to have long periods of lulls that allow for the next peak to be something special.” (Stuart)
“I do think that as you get older, there’s a greater willingness to reflect on what it means to be alive, what it means to exist in this world.” (Stuart)
“There’s so much anger, so much infighting among groups and fighting with other groups that people are looking for ways to make sense of all of that. And at its core, that’s what art is attempting to do.” (Stuart)
“When you come to a concert, you’re being thrust together to experience something as a community — a kind of ad hoc community that will not exist again after this day.” (Stuart)
“Your presence, your energy, your focus is palpable. I can’t describe what it feels like, but I feel it.” (Stuart)
“When you’re at a concert, you’re actively engaged in the artistic endeavor. It’s not like we’re performing and you’re listening.” (Stuart)
“Don’t judge yourself based on other people’s perspectives. Know what you want, know what’s important to you, and pursue that.” (Stuart)
NOTES
Stuart Malina has served as Music Director and Conductor of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra for more than 25 years. A Tony Award-winning orchestrator and accomplished pianist, he is known for blending classical tradition with contemporary perspectives while championing the emotional and communal power of live music.
The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest continuously operating orchestras in the United States, performing at the historic Forum Auditorium in downtown Harrisburg. The organization presents classical masterworks, pops concerts and educational programming while working to expand accessibility and deepen community engagement through live music experiences.
Malina won a Tony Award for his orchestration work on Twyla Tharp and Billy Joel’s Broadway production Moving Out. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with artists across multiple disciplines including dancers, actors and rock musicians. He also discussed the challenges of contemporary classical composition, the importance of exposing audiences to new music and the role arts organizations play in combating loneliness and fostering human connection.
Malina reflected on how audiences often develop a deeper appreciation for music and art as they age, citing patience, perspective and emotional openness as contributing factors.
He discussed how classical music differs from modern entertainment because it embraces emotional peaks and valleys rather than constant stimulation and adrenaline.
Malina described live performance as a shared community experience that cannot be replicated through recordings, emphasizing the energy exchange between performers and audiences.
He shared stories illustrating music’s profound effect on cognition and emotion, including experiences involving individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and developmental disabilities.
Malina explained how working on Broadway’s Moving Out expanded his understanding of artistry and deepened his respect for musicians, dancers and choreographers from outside the classical world.
He spoke about the importance of contemporary composers and challenged the notion that great music only exists in the past, arguing that today’s composers are creating work that will endure for generations.
Malina discussed how concerts and other live arts experiences can help combat loneliness by creating safe, communal environments where people feel connected through shared experiences.
