Let the symphony play on…
It’s a warm summer night in the Flathead Valley.
Against a breathtaking sunset and light-laced clouds—and the pale, misty mauve of mountains far off in the distance—there’s a party going on. It’s a Fourth of July celebration, and it feels like the entire community has come out to celebrate. Some people are dancing, and children are playing. It appears to be a BYOC (bring your own chair) event, although some folks have opted to take the bring-your-own ethos a little further with tables, picnic blankets, food, and even baskets of perfect, fresh local strawberries ready to be eaten. Nearby, a group of kids engage in a boisterous game of soccer while others help themselves to what appear to be absurdly decadent shrimp cocktails.
It's a vibrant evening that combines the energy of a community festival with the friendly (if occasionally boisterous) comradery of a family picnic. And tonight, everyone is celebrating their community.
But the biggest star of the evening—even as the sun slips behind the mountains—is the Glacier Symphony.
A full symphony and chorale that perform under the direction of conductor and the symphony’s artistic director, John Zoltek (who’s also a musician and performer in his own right), the Glacier Symphony sounds like it’s the most uptight kind of performer. And that impression will last exactly as long as the first few notes.
Then you’ll realize that this is not your grandmother’s—or even your mom’s—symphony.
“The stuffy approach was actually an American invention,” says John. “Tuxedo on, and you have to be really quiet and stiff. The whole stuffiness of classical music is a relatively new thing. But that’s not where music used to be!”
It seems as if this symphony is about celebration, not the constrained notion of classical music that is still mired in stiff collars, sparkling evening dresses, and pinched noses hoisted high in the air. When you listen to the Glacier Symphony, there’s more going on than just music. There’s energy. There’s the very joy of a live performance played in front of a live audience, only with an invitation to join in the party. And there’s something else…a willingness to do things differently.
“It’s an electric experience, and I’m not kidding,” says John. “It’s not this staged sort of classical music. Our orchestra is very alive. We really bring the music. That’s who we are.”
Judging by the enthusiastic applause of the audience after the last high note fades into the summer night, it’s something that everyone in Flathead Valley appreciates.
“We’re able to do a lot of different things,” says John. “We do the stuffy stuff—really, really in a very dynamic way, in a non-stuffy way, in a very engaging way—and then we also rock out. So it’s heart, head, and body.”
It’s an ethos that permeates every aspect of the Glacier Symphony. It’s not just about music appreciation (although it certainly is that), but inspiration, education, and even a dare. The symphony wants you to challenge your own preconceived ideas of what classical music is…and what a symphony does. And they’re doing it in a way that might prove impossible to resist, whether that’s a “Jeans ‘N’ Classics” night featuring the music of John Lennon or a Bridgerton-themed performance complete with Regency-costumed guests. There’s jazz, world music (anyone for a night of Persian or Finnish?), and even contemporary music.
And they’re already moving up in the world because for this year’s 2025 season—and its 40th year—the Glacier Symphony has a new home: the Wachholz Center at Flathead Valley Community College.
It’s a far cry from when John first began as the symphony’s artistic director over 25 years ago.
“Living in a small community and trying to maintain and build a symphony orchestra has lots of challenges,” he told the Daily Inter Lake. “When I first came here, there was a very small budget. There’s been years when I’ve had lots of players, then years where I hardly have any violin players. That’s just part of the makeup of a small orchestra. All Montana orchestras are in the same situation.”
“Well, it’s largely your friends and neighbors and colleagues from work who are up on stage playing an instrument, singing in the chorale, so you know these people...”
“On the other hand, there’s been a lot of support from the community. People are proud of having a symphony orchestra in our valley. In fact, Montana as a state has a long legacy of symphonic music.”
There’s that word again: community. For the symphony, it reaches into almost every aspect of the performance. Whether it’s having the Glacier High School Wrestling Team help set up picnic tables, extra assistance from a local scout troupe, or especially the assistance of sponsors like Whitefish Credit Union, a small but tightly-knit community can sometimes be the only thing keeping a symphony afloat. But for this community, it’s like helping family.
“Well, it’s largely your friends and neighbors and colleagues from work who are up on stage playing an instrument, singing in the chorale, so you know these people,” says Lynn. “We have a lot of our local music teachers, for example, who are performing with us.”
And as the summer sky darkens, the Glacier Symphony—guided by John—knows that this is more than music or performance. They’re celebrating. They’re having fun. And they’re joined by the people whose lives they share.
“We get up and dance once in a while, too,” says John. “At least, I do.”
Lynn laughs. “You do. Some of us have to play.”
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