The ISO is working with singer-songwriters and a Sarnia filmmaker to produce an innovative way to access their music. The pilot episode of The ISObar Sessions was released on the ISO’s YouTube channel, and it features artist Bil Eldridge performing his original songs along with a small, socially-distanced ensemble from the ISO.
Sarnia filmmaker, Troy Shantz, produced the episode last spring with donated time and community assistance. In a press release, ISO Executive Director Anthony Wing said the project began as a pre-pandemic First Friday feature. “Last Christmas we did a First Friday at the ISObar with Bil, and I arranged his music for an ISO string quartet. When the shutdown happened we reimagined the space as a TV studio and tried to create a sort of Austin City Limits with strings.”
The ISO is encouraging people to view the episode on YouTube and donate across their social media platforms. They also see the project continuing when the orchestra’s Canadian and American members are able to reunite and return to the concert stage.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
