It’s a bold move. An inspiring one. The Phil has left its March 3, 2012, concert program open so that local music fans can choose the compositions to be performed. Yep. An overture to open the concert. Our choice of any two concerti and/or symphonies for the second half. Inspiring.

Music Director Andrew Constantine calls it “Audience Choice,” and he can’t wait to learn what we’ll choose. His staff – with Fort Wayne Monthly as a delighted partner – has dreamed up a democratic process (yes, it involves voting for your favorites) to build the program between now and Jan. 15. That’s as long as he can wait. It takes time to gather the actual pages of music the musicians will rehearse and play from, and if a piece needs a soloist, Constantine needs time to find the best.

In the meantime, building the program “will be fun, frivolous, and entertaining,” he says. “I’ll help you find out who wrote that tune you’re always hearing on TV ads and those other little songs that just get stuck in your head. You’ll have the chance to win prizes along the way, and then – on March 3 – come and hear what YOU chose.”

The Composer Round begins Aug. 1. Visit FortWayneMonthly.com to find the link that will take you to a list of (as Constantine says) “29-plus” composers to choose from, plus fun and educational information about the composers prepared by the maestro himself. The number is open-ended because people can write in their favorite composer. We can vote for our favorite composer through Oct. 1, which gives each of us plenty of time to get lots of our friends to also vote for our favorites. Each email address will be allowed one vote each day, so vote early and often if you’re serious about getting your favorites on the program.