All-Star Orchestra Signs National Broadcasting Distribution Agreement

The All-Star Orchestra, comprised of top players from major orchestras in the United States, and led by Music Director Gerard Schwarz, has signed an agreement with WNET, the parent company of THIRTEEN - in partnership with American Public Television - for national distribution of the orchestra's first eight programs of classical masterpieces. American Public Television provides programming for the country's 354 public television stations including THIRTEEN, America's flagship public media station in New York.

The eight one-hour programs feature complete performances of favorite classical repertoire with new works by American composers plus interviews and commentary by Mr. Schwarz, the All-Star Orchestra musicians, and special guests. The broadcasts on THIRTEEN are planned for eight consecutive Sundays in the fall of 2013. Air dates and times for all stations will be announced over the next months, and will be posted on the All-Star Orchestra website, www.allstarorchestra.org.

WNET's Vice-President of Programming Stephen Segaller said, "[The] All-Star Orchestra represents an important contribution to public television and further strengthens the unmatched offerings of performance and arts programs presented by WNET. In the tradition of Leonard Bernstein's celebrated programs that popularized classical music on television, All-Star Orchestra blends together entertainment and education in this terrific music series. We look forward to seeing it premiere on our station and others across the country in the fall of 2013."

Under the leadership of Mr. Schwarz, The All-Star Orchestra came together in August 2012 to film a series of music programs to be aired on national public television, as well as extensive educational materials. Partnerships with leading educational publishers are under way to establish an interactive online presence. Through these programs, the All-Star Orchestra endeavors to encourage understanding and appreciation of classical music with its national audience while providing performances of the highest quality for its listeners.

All-Star Orchestra Music Director Gerard Schwarz said, "I am so grateful to WNET and American Public Television for joining in our extraordinary effort to bring great orchestral music to a large and diverse audience. I care so deeply about the future of classical music and nothing is a more powerful advocate then the music itself played by some of the country's finest orchestra musicians."

Executive Director Paul Schwendener said, "We are thrilled that America's largest public television station WNET will be leading the national broadcasts of the All-Star Orchestra, and will work in partnership with American Public Television to bring these programs to communities across the country. This is a wonderful initiative that will make great music accessible to audiences of all ages.

The All-Star Orchestra states as its mission: "The All-Star Orchestra will offer exceptional performances of the world's greatest music as the foundation of a new arts-in-education paradigm that uses state-of-the-art broadcast and multi-media technologies to shatter barriers to access, and to conceptually transform the classical music experience for the 21st century."

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