Arizona Philharmonic has experienced great growth since its founding in Prescott in 2018, and so has the Prescott arts community. “While the name Arizona Philharmonic represents our mission to bring together artists from across the state, it is equally important to reflect that Prescott is Arizona Philharmonic’s home,” commented Abby Coffey, AZ Phil’s Executive Director.
The former logo—a bowler hat—was loved by some and left others curious. Inspired by local clarinetist Gary Flowers, who first donned the bowler hat during a premiere of a work later featured in AZ Phil’s inaugural concert, the hat appeared in AZ Phil’s initial publicity photo and was soon adopted as the organization’s visual identity. “A nod to culture with a twist, the bowler hat symbolized fun, elegance, and adventure, and it even made a return appearance on stage during the final work of that inaugural concert,” added Henry Flurry, AZ Phil Artistic Director.
Over time, however, the image began to feel dated and didn’t emphasize AZ Phil’s home base as Prescott or its identity as a performing arts ensemble. As part of AZ Phil’s ongoing efforts to provide Prescott with the best classical music experience in town, the Board and staff felt it was time to upgrade and clarify the organization’s identity.
That Prescott Look
When working on designs for the new logo, there were three main areas of focus: professionalism, location, and a contemporary aesthetic. Heather Brown of Cultural Sponge, who also created logos for the Flagstaff Symphony and Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, was chosen for the design process. Heather collected feedback from AZ Phil Board and staff members to create a logo that reflects these priorities. The resulting design features a stylized Thumb Butte, connecting AZ Phil to Prescott area residents while remaining abstract enough to reflect our statewide scope. “We are excited to share our new logo and identity with the Prescott community, and look forward to the years ahead of growing with it,” commented Abby Coffey, AZ Phil’s Executive Director. “Additionally, we chose the tagline ‘Unrivaled Talent – Authentically Prescott‘ to reinforce AZ Phil’s professionalism and commitment to the community,” added Coffey.
How useful was this article ?
Click on a star to rate it!
