How 4 Symphony Video Podcasts Boldly Transformed the Lubbock Symphony
Redefining the Orchestra Experience
Back in 2024, we started a pretty exciting partnership with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. What began as a one-morning shoot for a concert featuring world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma quickly evolved into something much more ambitious. That footage became the foundation of a compelling TV campaign, but the partnership didn’t stop there. One of the most unexpected and powerful outcomes was the creation of symphony video podcasts — a format that would go on to redefine how the orchestra connects with its audience.
A New Vision for Lubbock Symphony’s Brand
Innovating Tradition with Modern Storytelling
During the Christmas break of 2024, we met with the Symphony to brainstorm fresh ways to use video in their branding. The team expressed admiration for the Alamo Drafthouse experience — a theater chain known for its creative pre-roll content. Instead of playing traditional ads and trivia, Alamo curates niche, vintage, or quirky media that subtly connects to the film being shown.
That meeting planted the seed: what if we could bring that same storytelling magic to the concert hall?
The idea emerged to produce symphony video podcasts — short, engaging video features in the style of a podcast that would play before each performance. These wouldn’t just promote upcoming events; they’d educate, entertain, and prepare the audience with insightful commentary about the music and composers they were about to experience.
We had already collaborated with the Symphony on their end-of-year giving campaign, which had proven to be a meaningful success. This new idea felt like a natural evolution of that storytelling partnership.
The Goals of Symphony Video Podcasts
When the idea of symphony video podcasts first took shape, we aligned with the Symphony on a set of core goals:
Inform the audience – Many symphony-goers enjoy the music but often don’t know the story behind it. We wanted to provide context about the pieces, composers, and performers.
Engage and entertain – Classical music is a centuries-old art form, but its relevance today depends on how well we connect it to modern audiences.
Drive attendance – Video is still the most effective medium for digital engagement. By creating content tailored for social platforms, we aimed to generate buzz and boost ticket sales.
Setting the Stage: RAMAR Studios
To bring these symphony video podcasts to life, we needed the right space — one that would complement the look and sound we envisioned. Enter RAMAR Studios, home of Lubbock’s new classical radio station, Classical 105.7. The Symphony already had a partnership with the station, so it made perfect sense to leverage their largest podcast-ready studio.
We conducted a detailed location scout, analyzing lighting conditions, acoustics, and space constraints. The studio was just large enough to host our crew and talent without compromising production quality.
The Technical Breakdown
Lighting the Scene
The Importance of Lighting
Our lighting approach was both deliberate and cinematic. We used a china ball key light to evenly illuminate faces with a natural glow. For backlighting, we opted for harder colored sources to add dimension and subtly reference the brand’s visual identity. The result was a warm, welcoming image that still carried a sense of sophistication.
Camera Placement Strategies
Multiple cameras were placed to capture dynamic angles without disrupting the conversation flow. These multi-cam podcast videos give us flexibility in the edit, helping maintain pacing and visual interest.
Audio Engineering Excellence
One of the perks of using a professional radio studio is access to high-quality microphones. Each speaker had their own mic, routed through the studio’s built-in board and recorded into a multitrack system. Clean, isolated audio is non-negotiable for symphony video podcasts, especially when you’re mixing dialogue with music excerpts.
The Coldest Shoot of the Year
Our first load-in day was a frigid 9°F (with a wind chill of -14°). Despite the brutal weather, and one dead tauntaun, we hustled to get equipment inside and set up lighting. Once the rig was dialed in, we moved on to blocking out shots and finalizing our audio routes. That pre-light day made the actual shoot go incredibly smoothly.
The First Symphony Video Podcast
The first symphony video podcast featured a lineup of engaging personalities: Amanda Key, Dr. Kurtzman, Clint Barrick (as host), and Maestro David Cho. Once everyone was in place, filming moved quickly. We captured a few takes to ensure coverage and clarity, then moved into the post-production phase.
The final podcast video was scheduled to play before the live concert at Buddy Holly Hall. As always, we insisted on an A/V run-through the day prior — an essential step when delivering video content at a live venue.
Audience Reaction
The audience response was overwhelmingly positive. Many attendees said they felt more connected to the performance after watching the video. They now understood the historical and emotional context of what they were hearing.
The success of that first podcast led to an official decision from the Symphony: keep making them.
Scaling Up: Multiple Podcasts, Multiple Locations
We went on to produce three more symphony video podcasts over the course of the season. One of those remained at RAMAR Studios, but the others were moved to a new location — the Lubbock Symphony’s conference room.
Why the change? While RAMAR was incredibly accommodating, we didn’t want to disrupt their operations. Plus, the conference room gave us creative freedom. We removed tables, cleared the space, and treated it like a blank canvas.
Creative Freedom and New Visual Style
Unleashing Artistic Expression Through Podcasting
The new setup at the Symphony office gave us several advantages:
More visual depth – We could control the background, allowing for a layered, cinematic look.
Pre-lighting flexibility – We could dial in our lighting without waiting on talent.
Audio customization – Since we were no longer tied to the studio’s setup, we could bring in our preferred mics and preamps.
The result was a podcast-style video that felt more like a short film. It matched the prestige of the Symphony while still feeling accessible to modern viewers.
Multi-Platform Utility of Symphony Video Podcasts
Each symphony video podcast wasn’t just played before performances. Clips were optimized for:
Instagram Reels and Stories
Facebook posts
YouTube Shorts
Embedded videos in email newsletters
This gave the Symphony a full range of content to market each performance and build long-term digital equity.
Why Symphony Video Podcasts Work
Here’s what makes this medium so effective:
Context enhances appreciation: When people understand what they’re hearing, they engage more deeply.
Video builds trust: Seeing faces and hearing voices makes the experience more personal.
Content is evergreen: These podcasts remain relevant each season or as archival content.
Localized branding: Each podcast strengthens the Lubbock Symphony’s connection with the community.
The Essentials of Crafting a Symphony Video Podcast
From Concept to Completion
For any arts organization considering a similar project, here’s a basic production checklist:
Pre-production planning (topic, script, talent)
Location scouting and technical prep
Lighting and audio setup
Multi-camera video shoot
Post-production editing and grading
Multi-format export (for venue, web, and social)
Final approval and delivery
This is not a “set it and forget it” production — symphony video podcasts require attention to detail, storytelling finesse, and technical precision.
The Future of Symphony Storytelling
The rise of symphony video podcasts represents more than a shift in how orchestras communicate — it’s a reinvention of how they connect. By bringing education and entertainment together in a polished, digital-first format, the Lubbock Symphony has positioned itself as a forward-thinking institution rooted in tradition.
These podcasts aren’t just an added feature — they’re part of the Symphony’s identity now. They’ve become a bridge between centuries-old music and the digital-first expectations of today’s audience.
And we couldn’t be more proud to be part of that story.
Support the Podcast Through Sponsored Advertising
We believe in building strong community partnerships. If you’re a local or regional business interested in reaching a highly engaged and culturally invested audience, consider sponsoring a future episode of the symphony video podcast. Sponsors are featured both visually and verbally during the video, gaining exposure at live symphony events and across our digital platforms.
Contact us to learn how your brand can be part of Lubbock’s evolving arts story.
Create Your Own Video Podcast
If you’re a performing arts organization, music ensemble, or nonprofit looking to produce your own video-based podcast, we’d love to help you bring that vision to life. From planning and production to post and distribution, we can guide you every step of the way.
Reach out to start a conversation about how symphony video podcasts can elevate your brand, deepen audience connection, and grow your presence both online and onstage.