In this installment of Beyond the Music: Sharing the Heartbeat behind the Harmony, we spoke with longtime QCSO supporters Katie and Jason Marchik, a Quad Cities couple whose love of orchestral music has become part of both their family traditions and their date-night routine. From Masterworks concerts to Films-in-Concert events, the Marchiks have embraced the full spectrum of QCSO experiences—most recently celebrating a birthday at Jurassic Park in Concert. Ahead of this weekend’s performances of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 2 in Concert, they share what keeps them coming back year after year, why the movie concerts hold such a special place in their family story, and how the symphony continues to bring inspiration, connection, and a bit of magic to their lives.
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: Jason and I were both raised in the Quad Cities and have now chosen to raise our own family here as well. He runs the household and I am the Chief Operating Officer at ImpactLife. We stay busy with three kids and all of the related activities!
Q: How long have you been involved with the QCSO, and what inspired you to join the Board of Directors, Katie?
A: I have always had a love of music of all genres and nothing beats live music in a beautiful performance hall. All three of our kids have participated in music (orchestra, band and choir) and we feel strongly that youth music education is a strong foundation for their future. When I was asked to join the Board back in 2020, it was an easy decision to say yes! Helping to support an organization that brings music to life for people of all ages is such a privilege.
A: We love the symphony at the movies events. It is the absolute best way to watch a film. For us, Jurassic Park is a nostalgic movie from our early adult years and you just can’t beat a John Williams score.
Q: We heard you celebrated birthdays at the concert! How did celebrating at a live orchestra performance make the night feel more memorable?
A: We knew we would attend this concert when the season was first announced but when I saw the date landed on Jason’s birthday, it made it even more fun! With busy lives, we never need an excuse for a date night but this one was truly meant to be.
Q: What surprised you most about watching a film like Jurassic Park with a live symphony performing the score?
A: The live performance enhances the suspenseful nature of the movie. Even though we have both watched the movie many times before, it almost felt like I was watching it for the very first time.
Q: Was there a specific moment where you felt the magic of the live music?
A. I know we are supposed to be watching the movie but sometimes I like to watch the orchestra too. They truly bring the magic to the performance with such a mastery of their craft. I am always so amazed at their ability to play an entire movie score with just a short intermission.
Q: How would you describe the energy of the audience during a movie concert compared to a traditional symphony performance?
A. There is so much more interaction with the film when you attend a symphony at the movies event. The audience cheers and boos and everything in between which makes it more immersive than a traditional move theater showing.
Q: Did experiencing the film with live music change the way you view the movie—or the music itself?
A. The experience reinforced the power of the score in a movie. We sometimes take the music for granted and it fades into the background of a film. When you are watching the movie with a live orchestra, the music becomes so much more front and center to the experience.
Q: You’re also frequent attendees of our Masterworks series. What draws you to both experiences—Masterworks and Movies-in-Concert?
A. We continue to be blown away by the level of musicianship of the QCSO. Whether it is more contemporary music played at Riverfront Pops or the movie concerts or something more traditional at Masterworks, we know we will always hear the highest level of performance.
Q: How does attending symphony concerts fit into your life as a couple—do you see it as a date night, a tradition, or something more?
A. Sometimes we make it a date night and combine it with a nice dinner out. Sometimes it is a social event where we meet friends for a drink before the concert. And sometimes it is nothing fancy or planned and we just head straight to the concert and back home again. That’s the beauty of the concerts is that you can make them whatever you want them to be!
The symphony is part of our family traditions as well. We started bringing our oldest son to the Harry Potter series soon after we moved back to the Quad Cities. He is a senior this year and will graduate from high school in the spring so it could not be more fitting to honor that tradition one last time with the last installment of the Harry Potter series later in November.
Q: What does the Quad City Symphony Orchestra mean to you as members of this community?
A. The Quad Cities is so blessed to have such a high level of performing arts in our community. The level of musicality of the QCSO is on par with much larger cities which is made possible by the community support and partnerships to advance the arts in the community.
Q: Why do you think events like Films-in-Concert are important for attracting new audiences and welcoming families to the symphony?
A. The symphony should be accessible to everyone which is why our vision remains “Where Access Meets Inspiration”. So many people that I talk to think that the symphony is for older people and we need to blow up that myth. The QCSO has something for everyone. Family friendly events as well as Symphony Day for the 4th and 5th graders in the community are an important way to engage with youth early to get them hooked on the magic of the symphony.
Q: If you could choose another movie to experience with a live orchestra, what would it be and why?
A. I would love to see the Indiana Jones series as the next installment of the symphony at the movies. Another amazing John Williams masterpiece!
Q: What would you tell a friend who has never been to a film-in-concert performance and is thinking about attending?
A. It the absolute best way to see a film – grab your popcorn and enjoy the show!
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.