Windsor Symphony Orchestra


The Windsor Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra located in Windsor, Ontario. The orchestra performs in South Western Ontario, playing both classical and popular music.

History

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1941, originally as the Windsor Concert Orchestra. The name was changed to The Windsor Symphony in 1948. The first conductor was Matti Holli, who remained with the orchestra until his death in 1977. From 1977 to 1979 Clifford Evens served as interim conductor and artistic adviser. Laszlo Gati was music director from 1979 to 1985 and is credited with raising the level of the orchestra and consolidating community support.
The most recent Canadian conductor to be appointed music director was Dwight Bennett in 1986. Under Bennett, the orchestra became fully professional but also ran into financial difficulties through unrealized revenue projections and a musician's strike in 1988. He was succeeded by American conductor Susan Haig in 1991. Music director from 2001 to 2012 was American conductor John Morris Russell. During his tenure the orchestra received several awards including two Ontario Lieutenant Governor's awards for the arts. He conducted his last concert as music director on May 12, 2012.
On Feb. 26, 2013, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Robert Franz as their sixth Music Director. Franz is the third American conductor in a row to be appointed to the position. He was chosen from seven other candidates, which were fellow Americans Laura Jackson, Steven Jarvi, Kevin Rhodes and Scott Speck; Irish conductor Kevin Mallon; Canadian Erik Paetkau and Romanian Cristian Macelaru.
The Windsor Symphony Orchestra performs at several venues in the Windsor-Essex County area but, since the beginning of the 2012-13 season, is based at the historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Windsor, a restored former movie house. Several concerts, mainly for smaller ensembles and the orchestra's Chorus, are performed annually at the University of Windsor's Assumption University Chapel.

Music directors

Current leadership

Peter Wiebe

Assistant conductor Peter Wiebe was named Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra Conductor and Assistant Conductor in January 2005. Wiebe has played cello in the Windsor Symphony Orchestra's core since 1987. He has also served the WSO at different times as principal and assistant principal cellist, education co-coordinator, concert host, chorusmaster, operations manager, arranger and composer.

Concerts and programs

Main stage

Annually, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra stages 4 to 5 programmes with full orchestra in its Masterworks series and 4 to 5 Pops programmes, each performed at the historic Capitol Theatre in Windsor. The WSO also has 4 to 5 chamber orchestra programmes in its Intimate Classics Series performed in Windsor, Leamington and Tecumseh, Ontario.

Chorus

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra Chorus was created in 1988 as a choral group directly affiliated with the orchestra. Previously, the orchestra would perform alongside the Windsor Classic Chorale and groups from Windsor and Leamington. The Chorus, which is volunteer and by audition, performs several concerts throughout the season at the Capitol Theatre as well as at UW Assumption University Chapel, covering classical as well as contemporary and pop music. The current chorusmaster is Bruce Kotowich.

New Music

The Windsor Canadian Music Festival is an annual celebration of new orchestral music with a focus on Canadian composers and performers. The WSO collaborates with the University of Windsor, School of Music to showcase up and coming composers and explore the newest trends in musical expression.

Community outreach

Community Outreach concerts feature the WSO chamber orchestra and regional soloists in programmes designed for small venues, to help hosting organizations raise funds for a special cause. Gift of Music concerts are performed by string or woodwind ensembles for social service agencies, nursing/retirement homes and non-profit organizations throughout Windsor/Essex County.

Education initiatives

Music Alive

The Music Alive concert series involves small percussion, woodwind, brass, and string ensembles, which perform at schools in Windsor/Essex County. Programming is age-specific and designed to correspond with the Ontario school curriculum with the intent of enhancing learning through the arts.

Education Concert Series

The Education Concert Series consists of three concert programmes designed kindergarten to grade three; grades four to six, and grades seven to twelve. The concerts are developed to be interactive and often feature young performers as soloists. Tied specifically to The Ontario Curriculum Grades 1-8: The Arts, 1998, concert themes are: language, social studies, geography, science, and math.

One-Community – One Symphony

The One-Community – One Symphony Project began in 2008, as a season long exploration of a single major symphonic work with high school bands and choirs from Windsor/Essex. The biennial project includes the participation of 10-12 high school bands and choruses representing French, Catholic and Public School Boards. Students rehearse and perform arrangements of the work as part of their regular school music program, with additional master-classes and rehearsals with Maestro Russell. The project culminates with a shared performance with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

Peanut Butter n' Jam

The WSO's Peanut Butter n' Jam concert series is an interactive and engaging introduction to music for young children ages 2–6 and their families. Music hosts guide children in exploration of classic melodies, orchestral families, traditional songs, art, story telling and magic. PB n' J concerts are offered at three different locations in Windsor at a variety of times.

Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra

Created in 2004, the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra rehearses and performs orchestral music under professional direction. Students audition for membership. The WSYO performs 3-5 concerts annually including Side-by-Side performance with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

Music Therapy

The Music Therapy program is a partnership between the WSO, University of Windsor Music Therapy program, Windsor Regional Hospital, and Transition to Betterness. University of Windsor Music Therapy students perform alongside WSO musicians at Windsor Regional Hospital, visiting patients.

Awards and accolades

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra has presented over 40 World Premieres since 2001. This includes 29 works commissioned by the WSO.
YearComposerPiecePremiereCommissioned
2000-01Grossi, JasonGesturesCanadian Premier
2000-01Kovarik, ChristopherMorning CommuteWorld Premier
2000-01Kuzmenko, LarysaConcerto for Piano & PercussionWorld Premier
2001-02Kovarik, ChristopherSinfoniettaWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2001-02Malcom, TrevorOne Hundred Thirty Something Point 5World PremierWSO Commissioned
2001-02McIntrye, PaulRequiescantin PaceWorld Premier
2003-04Currie, NeilSentiment Number 3World PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Hatch, PeterCrystal FragmentsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Lee, BrentVoca me cum benedictusWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Lee, BrentLike BreathWorld Premier
2003-04Lee, BrentLast Minute LuluWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Lee, BrentGatineau RiverWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Palmer, JulietSwerveWorld Premier
2003-04Rosen, RobertArt of AqueductsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Wiebe, PeterMovimento for StringsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Yzeiri, BesnikPotpuriWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Currie, NielSentiment Number 3World PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Hatch, PeterCrystal FragmanetsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Rosen, RobertArt of AqueductsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Frehner, PaulTightrope: For 3 Accordions and OrchestraWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Lee, BrentSelvage for Orchestra and MidiWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Lee, BrentIron HorsesWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Lee, BrentStone and StarWorld Premier
2004-05Lee, BrentEquinox BelowWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Roi, MichelineTengo Que DecirWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2005-06Korndorf, NikolaiLet the Earth Bring ForthNorth American Premier
2005-06Lee, BrentSymphony No. 1 World PremierWSO Commissioned
2005-06Lee, BrentTrance Phatty AcidWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2005-06Lee, BrentArcadiaWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2005-06Lee, BrentLuminous NightWorld Premier
2005-06Morlock, JocelynMusic of the Romantic EraWorld Premier
2005-06Yusupova, IraidaOn My Way to DamascusWorld Premier
2006-07Abram, JohnKitchenetteWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2006-07Godin, ScottO Sweet SpontaneousWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2006-07Oesterle, MichaelPerennialsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2006-07Oliver, JohnFace in the AbstractWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2006-07Smith, LindaBurnt UmberWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2008-09Kuster, KristinBeneath this StoneCanadian Premier
2008-09Lee, BrentRuck N' Roll for Electric Viola and OrchestraWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2008-09Marwood, ShelleyOf Such Ecstatic SoundWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2008-09Plowman, Michael RichardJourney to the CenterWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2008-09Santos, ErikSymphony No. 1 "Shards"Canadian Premier