About | Westwater Arts

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We love what we do

For over 50 years Westwater Arts has been the standard for visuals with orchestras. We’re passionate about combining breathtaking imagery with classical music in ways that connect and inspire audiences. We’re continually creating new concert pieces set to music that moves us, and we love collaborating with people who are equally excited about the expressive possibilities of classical music.

About Westwater Arts

Company history

What started as an artistic experiment over 50 years ago has become the standard for visuals with orchestras today. While our technology, scope and style have greatly evolved over the years, Westwater Arts continues to push the boundaries, inspiring today’s audiences with immersive concert experiences.

In 1973, our company’s now-retired founder, James Westwater, pioneered the first performance of symphonic photochoreography in his hometown, with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Ohio. In the orchestra world, photochoreography was unlike anything else at the time.

Shortly thereafter, photochoreography made its way onto concert programs across the central and eastern U.S., in cities like Cleveland, Tulsa and Washington, D.C., where the National Symphony Orchestra presented photochoreography at the Kennedy Center in March 1975. Early on, James also had the opportunity to serve as a National Endowment for the Arts Resident Artist and the National Science Foundation’s Artist in the Antarctic. A celebrated career and an original art form were born, and James continued developing new multimedia pieces and innovative orchestral collaborations for the next 39 years. A few of James’s later creations like Reflections of the Spirit, Vanishing Forest, and The Eternal Struggle are still occasionally presented by Nicholas live in concert alongside our more contemporary pieces.

Fast forward to 2009. As James began preparing for retirement, Nicholas Bardonnay joined Westwater Arts. Nicholas brought fresh ideas, energy and creativity to the organization and the art form, leading to technological advancements and new artistic heights. Nicholas expanded the diversity and scope of the repertoire offerings as well as our connections within the orchestral field. Before James’s retirement in 2014, Nicholas and James undertook two major joint commissions—Grand Canyon Country and Czech Journeys—for the principal orchestras in Tucson & Phoenix and Scotland & Toronto, respectively.

To date, we’ve created new symphonic experiences for more than one million classical music lovers, and our art form has been performed with over 200 orchestras of all sizes in almost every U.S. state, and with orchestras in Europe, Canada, Mexico and Asia. Some of Nicholas’s recent projects have taken him to Iceland, Mexico, our beloved National Parks, and the digital archives of over a dozen countries.

Our ties within the orchestra field run deep, and many of our collaborations on both concerts and new commissions have been repeat engagements with music directors and orchestra staff who enthusiastically promote our work. As Westwater Arts continues to evolve we still wholeheartedly embrace that same pioneering spirit from our early days, combined with a freshness and modern sensibility that orchestras and audiences will continue to enjoy for decades to come.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you at the next concert!

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Who we’ve worked with

Over 200 symphony and chamber orchestras & music festivals

Abilene Philharmonic

Acadiana Symphony Orchestra

Akron Symphony Orchestra

Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Allentown Symphony Orchestra

Amarillo Symphony

Amazing Earthfest

American Festival Chorus and Orchestra

Anchorage Symphony Orchestra

Anderson Symphony Orchestra

Arizona State University Symphony Orchestra

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

Asheville Symphony Orchestra

Augusta Symphony

Austin Symphony Orchestra

Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra

Billings Symphony Orchestra

Binghamton Philharmonic

Black Hills Symphony Orchestra

Boston Landmarks Orchestra

Boston University Symphony Orchestra

Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra

Bowling Green-Western Symphony Orchestra

Bozeman Symphony Orchestra

Brevard Symphony Orchestra

Britt Music and Arts Festival

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

California Symphony Orchestra

Canton Symphony Orchestra

Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra

Cascade Festival of Music (OR)

Catholic University of America Symphony Orchestra

Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra

Charleston Symphony Orchestra

Charlotte Symphony

Chattanooga Symphony & Opera

Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Cleveland Orchestra

Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra

Columbus Indiana Philharmonic

Columbus Symphony (OH)

Concert Artists of Baltimore

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra

Delaware Symphony Orchestra

Des Moines Symphony Orchestra

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

East Texas Symphony Orchestra

El Paso Symphony Orchestra

Elgin Symphony Orchestra

Erie Philharmonic Orchestra

Eugene Symphony

Filharmonia Łódzka

Filharmonia Opolska

Filharmonia Warmińsko-Mazurska

Florida Orchestra

Florida Philharmonic

Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra

Fort Smith Symphony

Fort Wayne Philharmonic

Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra (WI)

Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra

Glacier Symphony and Chorale

Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra

Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra

Great Falls Symphony Orchestra

Green Bay Symphony Orchestra

Greensboro Symphony Orchestra

Greenville Symphony Orchestra

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra

Heartland Festival Orchestra

Honolulu Symphony Orchestra

Houston Symphony

Hudson Valley Philharmonic

Huntsville Symphony Orchestra

Illinois Symphony Orchestra

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Jackson Symphony Orchestra

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (FL)

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

Kingsport Symphony Orchestra

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

La Crosse Symphony Orchestra

Lake Charles Symphony

Lake Forest Symphony

Lancaster Festival

Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra

Lexington Philharmonic

Lima Symphony Orchestra

Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra

Long Beach Symphony Orchestra

Lubbock Symphony Orchestra

Macomb Symphony Orchestra

Macon Symphony Orchestra

Magic Valley Symphony

Mansfield Symphony Orchestra

Memphis Symphony Orchestra

Middletown Symphony Orchestra

Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Minnesota Orchestra

Mississippi Symphony Orchestra

Muncie Symphony Orchestra

Naples Philharmonic

Nashville Chamber Orchestra

Nashville Symphony

National Symphony Orchestra

Neue Philharmonie Westfalen

Nevada Symphony Orchestra

New Haven Symphony Orchestra

New Mexico Symphony Orchestra

New Orleans Symphony Orchestra

New West Symphony Orchestra

Newport Symphony Orchestra

North Carolina Symphony Orchestra

Northeastern Pennysylvania Philharmonic

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra

Northwood Orchestra (MI)

Oakland Symphony

Ocean City Pops

Oklahoma City Philharmonic

Omaha Symphony

Orchestra Nashville

Oregon Mozart Players

Oregon Symphony

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

Orquesta de Cámara del Nuevo Mundo

Owensboro Symphony Orchestra

Pacific Symphony Orchestra

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra

Peoria Symphony Orchestra

Philly Pops

Phoenix Symphony

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Portland Symphony Orchestra (ME)

ProMusica Orchestra of Columbus (OH)

Quad City Symphony Orchestra

Rapides Symphony Orchestra

Reading Symphony Orchestra

Reno Philharmonic Orchestra

Richardson Symphony Orchestra

Roanoke Symphony Orchestra

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Rockford Symphony Orchestra

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Sacramento Symphony Orchestra

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra

Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Salina Symphony

Salisbury Symphony Orchestra

San Antonio Symphony

San Diego Symphony Orchestra

San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra

San Jose Symphony Orchestra

Santa Barbara Symphony

Santa Rosa Symphony

Savannah Symphony Orchestra

Schenectady Symphony Orchestra

Seattle Symphony

Shreveport Symphony Orchestra

Singapore Chinese Orchestra

South Arkansas Symphony

South Bend Symphony Orchestra

South Carolina Philharmonic

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra

Spartanberg Philharmonic Orchestra

Spokane Symphony Orchestra

Springfield Symphony (OH)

Sunriver Music Festival

Symphony of Northwest Arkansas

Symphony of Southeast Texas

Symphony of the Americas

Syracuse Symphony Orchestra

Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra

Toledo Symphony Orchestra

Topeka Symphony Orchestra

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Toruńska Orkiestra Symfoniczna

Tucson Symphony Orchestra

Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra

Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra

Tuscarawas Philharmonic

Utah Symphony

Utica Symphony Orchestra

Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorale

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (CAN)

Ventura County Symphony

Victoria Symphony (TX)

Vista Philharmonic Orchestra

Waco Symphony Orchestra

Walla Walla Symphony

Wheeling Symphony

Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra

Wichita Symphony Orchestra

Wyoming Symphony Orchestra

Yakima Symphony Orchestra

York Symphony Orchestra

Youngstown Symphony Orchestra

Anchorage Symphony Orchestra
Anderson Symphony Orchestra
Arizona State University Symphony Orchestra
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
Asheville Symphony Orchestra
Augusta Symphony
Austin Symphony Orchestra

Boston University Symphony Orchestra
Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
Bowling Green-Western Symphony Orchestra
Bozeman Symphony Orchestra
Brevard Symphony Orchestra
Britt Music and Arts Festival
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

California Symphony Orchestra
Canton Symphony Orchestra
Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra
Cascade Festival of Music (OR)
Catholic University of America Symphony Orchestra
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra
Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Charlotte Symphony

Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Delaware Symphony Orchestra

Des Moines Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra

East Texas Symphony Orchestra
El Paso Symphony Orchestra
Elgin Symphony Orchestra

Erie Philharmonic Orchestra
Eugene Symphony

Filharmonia Łódzka
Filharmonia Opolska
Filharmonia Warmińsko-Mazurska
Florida Orchestra
Florida Philharmonic

Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra
Fort Smith Symphony
Fort Wayne Philharmonic
Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra (WI)
Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra

Glacier Symphony and Chorale
Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra
Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra
Great Falls Symphony Orchestra

Green Bay Symphony Orchestra
Greensboro Symphony Orchestra
Greenville Symphony Orchestra

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
Heartland Festival Orchestra
Honolulu Symphony Orchestra

Houston Symphony
Hudson Valley Philharmonic
Huntsville Symphony Orchestra

Illinois Symphony Orchestra

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Jackson Symphony Orchestra

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (FL)

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Kingsport Symphony Orchestra

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

La Crosse Symphony Orchestra
Lake Charles Symphony
Lake Forest Symphony
Lancaster Festival
Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra

Lexington Philharmonic
Lima Symphony Orchestra
Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra
Long Beach Symphony Orchestra
Lubbock Symphony Orchestra

Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
Muncie Symphony Orchestra

Oakland Symphony
Ocean City Pops
Oklahoma City Philharmonic
Omaha Symphony
Orchestra Nashville

Oregon Mozart Players
Oregon Symphony
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
Orquesta de Cámara del Nuevo Mundo
Owensboro Symphony Orchestra

Pacific Symphony Orchestra
Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
Peoria Symphony Orchestra
Philly Pops

Phoenix Symphony
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Portland Symphony Orchestra (ME)
ProMusica Orchestra of Columbus (OH)

Quad City Symphony Orchestra

Rapides Symphony Orchestra
Reading Symphony Orchestra
Reno Philharmonic Orchestra
Richardson Symphony Orchestra
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Rockford Symphony Orchestra
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
Toledo Symphony Orchestra
Topeka Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toruńska Orkiestra Symfoniczna

Tucson Symphony Orchestra
Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra
Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra
Tuscarawas Philharmonic

Utah Symphony

Utica Symphony Orchestra

Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorale
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (CAN)
Ventura County Symphony

Victoria Symphony (TX)
Vista Philharmonic Orchestra

Waco Symphony Orchestra
Walla Walla Symphony
Wheeling Symphony

Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra
Wichita Symphony Orchestra
Wyoming Symphony Orchestra

Yakima Symphony Orchestra
York Symphony Orchestra

Youngstown Symphony Orchestra

FAQs

What is symphonic photochoreography?

A multimedia art form that combines stunning panoramic imagery with classical music live in concert. The result is a seamlessly choreographed visual and sound experience.
What concert formats work with this art form?

The music repertoire and visual themes of symphonic photochoreography are suitable for masterworks or pops concerts, and also gala or educational concerts. We often get requests for programming recommendations, so don’t be shy.
How many visual pieces do orchestras normally program?

Orchestras program anywhere between one and four pieces, with two being most common. We’re happy to make pairing recommendations from our repertoire.
What venues do you perform in?

Indoor and outdoor venues of all sizes. Typically the proscenium needs to be at least 44′ wide from curtain to curtain and at least 20′ high from the deck to the bottom of the valance or teaser curtain. If your venue has smaller dimensions than these, there are several alternatives. Contact us to talk about the options.
Do you bring your own equipment?

Most definitely. Our concert fee includes our equipment (multiple digital projectors, panoramic screen, laptops, etc.) as well as our artist’s time for rehearsals, performances and supervising the load-in and takedown.
What sizes of orchestras do you work with?

All sizes. Over the years we’ve come up with lots of ways to accommodate the various needs of different orchestras.
Sounds great! How much does it cost?

Our performance fees depend on the number of concerts, how many concert pieces you program and the combined length of the pieces. Most often, orchestras approach us before they know how many and which piece(s) would be the best fit, so please email us for a quote. Orchestras work directly with our artist, Nicholas Bardonnay, to book engagements. Our concert fee includes our equipment (multiple digital projectors, panoramic screen, laptops, etc.) as well as the artist’s time for rehearsals, performances and supervising the load-in and takedown.
Do you participate in preconcert events?

Absolutely! We enjoy supporting orchestras’ community outreach efforts. Nicholas is happy to give media interviews to help promote upcoming concerts, and he frequently participates in preconcert talks. Some orchestras also like to organize school visits, masterclasses, luncheons with symphony supporters, and special events for donors while we’re in town.
Do you do educational concerts?

Yes we do. They’re usually programmed alongside masterworks or pops concerts at a discounted rate. Recently we performed Rodeo! to Copland’s Rodeo suite for all the elementary and middle school children in Lima, Ohio. Fourth-grade teacher Nicole Rohrbaugh told us enthusiastically, “The kids absolutely loved it. They will be talking about it for weeks!”
What if the music I’m looking for isn’t in your repertoire?

There is plenty of music we haven’t worked with yet that would fit beautifully with symphonic photochoreography. We invite you to call or email us with the piece you have in mind. Some arrangements are more suited to choreography than others, so the possibilities depend as much on the music as our upcoming performance and production schedules.
Do you perform with chamber orchestras or music festivals?

Yes on both counts. See above under “Who We’ve Worked With” for a complete list of our engagements.
Do you perform outside the U.S.?

Yes. To date we’ve performed with orchestras in Europe, Asia, Canada and Mexico.
Is there an important question missing from this list?

Please send us an email! If there’s a pressing question you think should be addressed in this section, we want to know.

We love what we do

About Westwater Arts

Company history

Who we’ve worked with

Over 200 symphony and chamber orchestras & music festivals

How it works

PERUSE

PLAN

PROGRAM

PERFORM

FAQs