The Concert Truck
| Formation | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Columbia, SC |
| Type | Chamber Music |
| Focus | community outreach |
Area served | USA |
Maryanne Tagney Director | Susan Zhang |
| Website | www |
The Concert Truck (TCT) is an American organization focused on bringing chamber music into everyday spaces, including city neighborhoods, parks, and schools, [1] usually in an outdoor setting. [2] [3]
Founded by Nick Luby and Susan Zhang in 2016, the namesake 16-foot truck is a traveling music venue outfitted with a grand piano, lights, sound system, and a retractable platform. [4] The mobile concert hall enables live music to be performed anywhere a truck can be parked. [5] TCT programs are often presented in partnership with local arts entities such as concert halls, [6] [7] symphony orchestras, [8] festivals, [9] [10] schools, [11] [12] [13] museums, [14] [15] radio and TV stations, [16] [17] etc. [18]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, TCT's ability to perform outdoors offered an outlet for classical music when many indoor concerts were canceled. [19] For example, its mobile stage was transformed into a Pop-Up Opera Truck used by the Washington National Opera for open-air performances when its home venue Kennedy Center was closed. [20]
In 2025, TCT was acquired by Seattle Chamber Music Society to be a component of its community outreach portfolio. [21]
Awards
- 2015 University of South Carolina Music Leadership Laboratory: SPARK Creativity in Music Award [22]
- 2018 Warnock Foundation: Social Innovation Fellowship [23]
- 2018 Johns Hopkins University Business Plan Competition: Most Original Idea Award [22]
References
- ^ Li Khan (May 3, 2025). "'Concert truck' strikes a chord with Hilton Head youth. Where will it roll to next?". The Island Packet.
- ^ "The Concert Truck". Opus 3 Artists.
- ^ Tim Smith (Jun 29, 2019). "Pianists use their Concert Truck to make classical music more accessible". Baltimore Sun.
- ^ "HISTORY". The Concert Truck.
- ^ Carol Rose (Feb 25, 2022). "A truck as a concert hall? Yes, and it rolls into the Four Arts on Sunday". Palm Beach Daily News.
- ^ "The Concert Truck". Chandler Center for the Arts.
- ^ "'Concert Truck' to visit 10 central Indiana locations". Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. Mar 26, 2024.
- ^ "Dallas Symphony Orchestra Announces Concert Truck Summer Residency". Dallas Symphony Orchestra. May 16, 2024.
- ^ "Bringing the concert to you!". Piano Cleveland.
- ^ "VAF presents The Concert Truck, May 3-6, 2023 - Returning to Southeastern Virginia". Virginia Arts Festival. Apr 27, 2023.
- ^ "The Concert Truck at Patrick Square". Clemson University.
- ^ "Four Seasons Festival goes on the road in Concert Truck". East Carolina University News Services. Apr 17, 2019.
- ^ Brandi Smith (Mar 25, 2025). "Shepherd School students bringing mobile concert to Eldorado Ballroom". Rice University.
- ^ "SEPF presents The Concert Truck on Boyd Plaza". Columbia Museum of Art.
- ^ "Concert Truck at the Chandler Museum". City of Chandler, Arizona.
- ^ Greg Kostraba. "Nick Luby and Susan Zhang bring The Concert Truck to Chandler". KBACH 89.5 FM.
- ^ Michelle Mac Lennan. "The Concert Truck is coming to Chandler". Arizona PBS.
- ^ "The Concert Truck". Great Lakes Center for the Arts.
- ^ "Bridging Our Distances: Celebrating Community Heroes with the Concert Truck". University of South Carolina School of Music.
- ^ "Pop-Up Opera Truck". The Kennedy Center.
- ^ "Seattle Chamber Music Society Acquires The Concert Truck". Seattle Chamber Music Society. Sep 29, 2025.
- ^ a b "SEPF sparks a passion for development, organization and growth of festivals". University of South Carolina School of Music.
- ^ Jessica Bizik. "Rebels with a Cause". Warnock Foundation.