Interview: Conductor Jamie Reeves of Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert at Montgomery Symphony Orchestra

Can you remember where you saw Star Wars for the first time? For some, it was seated in a crowded movie theater, others on a couch watching a TV. The memorable introduction to this iconic film opens with the 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm logo while a short fanfare is played. Then there is nothing, a void of black space. A phrase appears on the screen. Colored with a hazy blue, the text reads, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away." The film fades again to a black void. It is hushed and ominous; time seems to slow with an intensifying anxiousness. Then BAM! The music of John Williams opens with the power of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The adventurous music grips you tight and carries you into this exciting world created by George Lucas, the start of world of Star Wars. The film delivers iconic characters - Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Lea, Han Solo, and many more.

The fantastic score is written by the multiple Oscar award-winning composer John Williams. For decades, his compositions have provided the musical heartbeat to film franchises from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and more. Williams's amazing music builds a connection with the audience. This timeless magic brings ranges of emotion and holds long-lasting cinematic memories.

This week in Montgomery, Alabama, you will find a unique, strong offering with the Force. On Thursday, The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra performs Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert. The movie will be projected above the orchestra as they play the entire John Williams score with the film. The concert will be led by MSO Music Director and Conductor Jamie Reeves.

Reeves is noted for his transformative leadership, bringing new dynamic performances and innovative arts programming to the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. His international experience conducting masterclasses and competitions, including the Lucerne Festival Masterclass with Bernard Haitink, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music with Cristian Măcelaru, and masterclasses with the Baltimore. Reeves holds degrees in conducting from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music and the Johns Hopkins University Peabody Conservatory. 

Reeves grew up in Montgomery. His return home from working across the globe is one with much excitement. Cultivating music programs and sharing the art of music with his community fills his voice with much glee. I talked with him before he took off to Tashi Station to pick up some power converters. (Warning: more Star Wars puns are forthcoming.)

DP - How did Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert come to light?

JR - Last year, we performed Jurassic Park in concert. It was our first experiment doing a film concert. The idea is to present something that helps broaden our audience and allow people who have never been to a symphony concert or wouldn't come to one otherwise. We gained incredible experience with Jurassic Park and had tons of fun and enthusiasm from the community. We thought Star Wars would be a great opportunity. We all love the music so much. Star Wars has to be one of our culture's most popular films and overall franchises. We agreed that "A New Hope" is the film that will bring the most attention across our region and bring people into the concert hall. 

John Williams's music is a powerhouse element in Star Wars. What is it like diving into his music and putting it up in front of a house?

As a conductor, of course, I am aware of John Williams's music and have conducted quite a bit of it for our Pops concerts. I have always respected and admired those pieces, but to have the entire film score, it's so much music. When you are watching the movie, whether at home or in a theater, the music can get lost behind sound effects. You really get to know each note to rehearse the full score and work with the orchestra. I have even more respect for John Williams as a composer.

The concert has the entire film on a giant screen with the highest quality projector and a top-of-the-line sound system. This performance is about bringing all of the music closer to the audience. As you said, the music is composed in a way that is directly related to the characters and drama. Watching "Star Wars: A New Hope" with the orchestra performing on stage enhances the experience and strengthens your connection to this film and this wonderful score. 

What were some challenges in conducting along with a film?

When these soundtracks are recorded, they go through a post-production process where the recordings are highly edited to match the film. The number one challenge in this production for me as a conductor is that we are doing this process in reverse. We have to play the music to precisely match what is going on in the film. Parts of it go by quickly due to how the film is edited. Keeping up can be tricky in the technical passages for the orchestra. The whole presentation is about two hours long. There is about 80 minutes of music. That is a lot of playing for an orchestra, but we are prepared, technically, knowing the difficult passages and being ready for those long haul of 80 minutes (with some breaks for dialogue). Overall, it's been a ton of fun. We all know this music; we have heard it our whole lives. The opportunity to play it in its complete form is a real privilege. I am very excited to see such enthusiasm in our community to have an audience that respects

We look forward to bringing more productions like this in the future. A big part of our mission is to reach as many people in our community as possible. Audiences can expect more film productions from us, along with a variety of Pops presentations. You might see Concerts with a Broadway singer or a pop singer. We are excited to expand our offerings to our audience. 

Are you a Star Wars fan?

Most definitely! When I was a kid, I remember when they re-released all the digitally remastered versions. Star Wars has been a big part of my life. This is the first symphonic music that I became familiar with. I never forgot those film scores when I was a budding musician and starting to learn. Williams's music had a big impact at the start of my career. It acted as an entry point into symphonic music. To now be a professional performing the full score is amazing. "Star Wars: A New Hope" is a film so familiar to me. To be completely honest, every moment conducting is a special one. Often, when we are rehearsing with the orchestra, because there's no dialogue, I can hear in my mind the lines spoken in the script. This film is that familiar to me. What makes it so unique and important is the response we are seeing from our community. There's just so much enthusiasm at the time when people question whether or not symphonic music is a relevant art form anymore or whether it will even exist in decades to come. This approach is the answer for not just this performance but all our concerts. We see a lot of growth in Montgomery. 

What is your favorite piece of music in all the nine films in Star Wars?

Wow, that is such a difficult choice. I would have to choose Leah's Theme to be my favorite. It's such a beautiful theme in the orchestration. It's something that is emotionally charged, especially in this format. But I love all of Williams's Star Wars music, to be honest with you. Empire Strikes Back is my favorite Star Wars film of all time. Maybe we will be able to do that sometime in the future. Star Wars: A New Hope is something so iconic and familiar. It's a brilliant privilege to conduct and have our orchestra play the score.

If you are a Star Wars fan, attending this unique live performance should be on your nava-computer.

"Star Wars: A New Hope" in Concert

The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra  

Conducted by Jamie Reeves   

September 21, 2023, 7:00pm 

Montgomery Performing Arts Centre  

Tickets: mpaconline.org 

(334) 481-5100

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