In this installment of Beyond the Music: Sharing the Heartbeat behind the Harmony, we spoke with Zander Ulam, an Augustana College student and former QCSYE musician whose journey with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra began with his love for the Harry Potter™ films.
After attending his first ™ Film-in-Concert performance as a young band student, Zander was so inspired by the live orchestral experience that he joined the QCSO Youth Ensembles—setting him on a path that continues today. As we prepare for this weekend’s performances of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 2 in Concert, Zander reflects on attending all eight films, the excitement and community these concerts create, and what it means to have world-class Film-in-Concert experiences right here in the Quad Cities.
TRANSCRIPT:
Brian Baxter
Alright, welcome to Beyond the music. I’m Brian Baxter, Executive Director, and I’m here with Zander to tell us who you are and your connection with the Quad City Symphony.
Zander Ulam
I am Zander Ulam. I’m a local student from Augustana College in Rock Island, just across the river, and my connection with Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra is I actually played in the youth ensembles in High School.
Brian Baxter
That’s wonderful. Well, thanks for joining us. We’re here in the Adler theater as our team is getting set up for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part Two, the final in the series of eight. Zander, I understand you’ve been to all eight of them. What’s that been like?
Zander Ulam
It’s been a wonderful experience, and actually, it’s the reason why I got into the Youth Symphony programs in the first place, because I, by happen chance my mom, she was like,” hey, you love Harry Potter, there’s this great concert, you just started band. Let’s go see the concert and see what it’s like.” And I saw the level of commitment that the Quad City Symphony has, and there I looked into more and joined the Youth Ensembles.
Brian Baxter
Wow, that’s a wonderful story. So what is this experience like for concert goers?
Zander Ulam
Oh, it’ s wonderful. It’s very interactive with the audience, very interactive with the musicians. You get the hoop and holler every time something awesome happens, both musically and visually on the screen. And people are always dressed up in costumes. It’s just a big part. It’s a big event for everyone.
Brian Baxter
That’s great. So how do you attend? Do you come with family, friends?
Zander Ulam
I always come…It’s always something different every year, which is part of the experience. Some years, I mean, I came with a couple of my percussion students one year becuase they were like “we want to go see Harry Potter” and I said, “Great. I’ll get a couple tickets, and we’ll all go just see the movie together.” I’ve gone with family, I’ve gone with friends, so it’s been something different every single year.
Brian Baxter
Oh, well, that’s cool that you get to mix it up. So why? If you’re talking to somebody who hasn’t been, why should they come?
Zander Ulam
They should come because it’s an experience like no other. You know, we’re always in the movie theaters and we’re listening to the music on the screen, but it’s not really there and present with us, but being able to see the music being made in person. It’s just an experience you can’t anywhere else, even listening to the quality of the music there. It’s great, but it’s even better just hearing it, seeing it happen live in person.
Brian Baxter
Yeah, it’s like, totally visceral. It’s like, it’s unlike anything else. So what does this mean for us to have this opportunity to experience concerts like this in the Quad Cities.
Zander Ulam
For people to experience it like this in the Quad Cities, it’s just it’s a special experience, because in like a lot of the big cities, like Chicago, is this is happening a lot, but in the Quad Cities, I mean, where it’s not as big as Chicago, but still very rooted in musical roots, it’s just great to be able to have an experience like this that we can share with everyone else in the room.
Brian Baxter
That’s great. Okay, last quick question, do you have a favorite Harry Potter movie?
Zander Ulam
My favorite has always got to be number five, Order of the Phoenix.
Brian Baxter
Order of the Phoenix. You heard it here first. Well, Zander thank you so much for joining us.
Zander Ulam
Thank you so much.
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.