In this installment of Beyond the Music: Sharing the Heartbeat behind the Harmony, we interviewed Masterworks Subscribers Katie and Philip Styrt, a young Quad Cities couple whose shared love of music has become an important part of their family life. Between balancing careers, parenting two young children, and finding time for one another, the Styrts have made attending QCSO Masterworks concerts a treasured tradition—part date night, part inspiration. In our conversation, they reflect on what keeps them coming back season after season, how they introduce their children to orchestral music, and what the symphony means to them as a cornerstone of community connection and creativity.
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourselves, your family, what you do, and how long you’ve lived in the Quad Cities?
A: We’ve lived in the Quad Cities for eight years now. Katie is a pastor serving at Milan Presbyterian Church, and Philip teaches English at St. Ambrose University. We have two children, ages five and two.
Q: How do you introduce your children to music, and has your QCSO experience influenced that?
A: Both our kids are generically interested in music, and we have some basic percussion toys at home from storytime events. We’ve taken both girls to the Up Close family concert with Emily, Bruno, and Kit, and the kids loved it! Last year our eldest was taking ballet lessons, so we brought her to the Masterworks concert with ballet. We usually go to the Saturday evening Masterworks as a date night, but sometimes will switch tickets and take our eldest to a Sunday matinee Masterworks instead.
A: For us, Masterworks is about discovering a new experience. We didn’t know what to expect with Greig, but the piece blew us away! Masterworks lets us experience really wonderful, moving music consistently, without needing us to pick specific pieces. It’s been great having season tickets, because we know every performance is going to be something different.
Q: What inspired you to become full-season Masterworks subscribers instead of just picking a few concerts?
A: The cost is a big factor. When we first looked at QCSO tickets, we were planning to pick three concerts. Then we realized that the price was per season, not per concert, and decided to subscribe to the full season! We usually miss about one concert a year because of scheduling conflicts, but then we give the tickets to friends or family.
We also appreciate having a designated event to look forward to, on a regular basis. With our jobs and young kids it’s easy to get too busy to go out, but with our season tickets we have time scheduled to go do something fun together.
Q: If you were encouraging a friend or another young family to attend a concert, what would you say?
A: At every concert, there’s at least one piece which is genuinely moving and surprising. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to head downtown and experience wonderful music, instead of having to plan a trip to Chicago or Minneapolis. And there’s a big variety in concerts! You can choose the full symphony, a smaller group for an Up Close, or pick a concert that includes visuals, vocals, or dance. It pays to look at the pieces in detail and see if there’s something exciting to you, and attend that show.
Q: Do you have a favorite composer, piece, or concert you’re most excited for this season?
A. We’re very excited for the March Masterworks with Bernstein and Beethoven – last season’s Rhapsody in Blue was astounding! We’re also looking forward to bringing our eldest kid to The Rite of Spring in February. We don’t expect her to go as crazy as the first audiences did when they saw it but it should be a good experience for her.
Beyond the Music: sharing the heartbeat behind the harmony
Beyond the Music: Sharing the Heartbeat behind the Harmony takes you behind the scenes of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra to meet the musicians, staff, and community members who bring the music to life.
Through candid conversations and personal stories, this series explores the passion, people, and purpose that drive every performance, giving you a deeper connection to the symphony and the harmony it creates both on and off the stage.