2021-2022 Annual Report
Meet Paul and Marilyn Flaum
Thinking back to your 40 years of service, what performances or experiences stand out as highlights?
Paul: Film nights are always a highlight. It was an excellent idea to have the orchestra play along with a film and a technological wonder to see how they do it. Tanglewood on Parade was always a wonderful day. Marilyn and I were friends with a group of four couples, almost all volunteers, and we would all get matching shirts every year. Our shirt tradition went on for nearly 20 years! People would ask us what the theme was this year. This was part of what Tanglewood was for us – lots of activities, fun, and learning.
Marilyn: I always love when the whole chorus comes out for the final night to perform Beethoven’s 9th Symphony that they finish with – it’s just so beautiful and rich.
Paul: You can’t beat Beethoven’s 9th when it’s done by the BSO and Tanglewood Festival Chorus. We also watched a performer through the years – Joshua Bell – we watched him as a kid. We watched him grow and mature, which has always been a pleasure to see. We enjoy Yo-Yo Ma’s concerts, especially because he’s part of the Tanglewood “family.” It’s so hard to pick out one or two best concerts – for me, it’s watching these artists grow and change.
How do you build community through your work with the BSO?
Marilyn: There is absolutely a community. We brought in many ushers – my brother became an usher, and other friends of ours that taught in Paul’s district. We made many new friends through ushering, too; you get friendly by talking and being with someone so often.
Paul: We also found ourselves making friends with the patrons. There was a group of three couples from Houston, Texas, and they would stay after the concerts. At the end of one season, they invited us out to dinner – and we developed a great friendship with all of them. We made many friends among patrons and other ushers.
Marilyn: We started to get friendly with people who worked with the orchestra. People who just sat with us in the section during the performances. Paul sat with the orchestra managers for many years too. Without ushering, we wouldn’t ever have the chance to have these interactions.
Paul: We even got to know some of the musicians! We would chat after the concerts and catch up and talk about our families. These connections made Tanglewood extra special.
What are some memorable TLI events or other BSO educational programs?
Marilyn: Things are going on at Tanglewood all the time! The Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) fellows are always so exuberant! We never missed a single TMC concert – the vibrance of their playing, you could tell that they were happy to be there.
Paul: The learning center is relatively new – we’ve attended a few master classes, and it’s a wonderful addition. It’s a beautiful space and something not just for the tourists but also for the Berkshire community. We wish it had started ten years ago!
