Philharmonic subscribers Jean Marie Montanye and Michael Bogdasarian

Meet subscribers Michael Bogdasarian, a retired surgeon and third-generation Binghamtonian, and Jean Marie Montanye, a retired real estate agent. As the couple puts it, “Binghamton has been our home forever.”

We recently had the chance to sit down and chat with the couple about their ongoing support for the Binghamton Philharmonic, including their experiences as season subscribers.

Binghamton Philharmonic: What initially inspired you to become subscribers to the Philharmonic?

Michael Bogdasarian: I always enjoyed classical music. Late at night I used to listen to classical music radio on a Chicago station after other stations had closed down.

Jean Marie Montanye: I had less personal connection to the music until Michael and I got together, but my high school background included playing the French horn. It was really together that we found a mutually shared pleasure in attending concerts and that I began to really enjoy the music.

MB: One reason for our being subscribers is to ensure our attendance. We want to be certain not to miss the Philharmonic's great performances. You could say we're "regulars." 

BP: What keeps you coming back season after season?

MB: The quality of the Philharmonic's work. The pieces are delightful and engaging, and the orchestra is excellent in managing many different styles. Having accomplished soloists from around the world is a special treat. For a community such as ours, we truly are privileged to have such easy access to some of the world's greatest music. 

BP: Are there any particular composers, pieces, or musicians that have made a lasting impression on you?

MB: Personally I enjoy Beethoven, Mozart, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, and many others, but one element the Philharmonic brings is exposure to new composers and new works. While I do not care for some contemporary pieces, hearing them still creates a sense of wonderful indulgence, because otherwise neither of us would have sought them out. As for the Philharmonic's musicians, I am impressed with how everyone melds into a piece. Many people deserve recognition for that accomplishment.

BP: What role does the Philharmonic play in your sense of connection to the local arts community?

MB: Putting aside our personal delight in attending the concerts, the presence of the Philharmonic provides an experience unavailable outside many large cities. In this regard we are blessed. The ease of going to the Forum Theatre brings the experience of great music to so many different people, and the presence of a world-class orchestra also plays a role in recruiting people to our region. 

BP: What does the music mean to you personally?

MB: Music is another world. It is transient but reaches into us at a very deep level, which is why some music lasts for centuries, always engaging us even if we're not experts in academic things like musical forms and techniques. Nothing else contains its depths. Movies, theater, etc., are designed almost as much for the intellect as the soul, not to disparage them, but music -- especially instrumental music -- is unique. We are hardwired for music. All is in music: tension, triumph, defeat, rebirth, seasons, the immensity of the universe, all that motivates and guides us. 

BP: What do you value most about being subscribers?                   

MB: It's great to have the same seats each season and to be invited to the special subscribers' reception. But the most important aspect for us is knowing that we will have these marvelous musical experiences season after season, year after year. I look forward to each season's offerings, and I want to see the Forum PACKED!