Discovery Ensemble

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Discovery Ensemble (DE)
Chamber orchestra
Founded2008 (2008)
LocationBoston, Massachusetts
Concert hall
Principal conductor Courtney Lewis

Discovery Ensemble was a Boston-based chamber orchestra [1] founded by Music Director Courtney Lewis and Artistic Director David St. George. The orchestra, made up of young professionals from the Boston area, gave its inaugural concert in October 2008. [2] It disappeared from the Boston music scene after an announcement cancelling the already advertised 2014 season. [3]

Contents

Discovery Ensemble had two missions. It was a chamber orchestra that performed to local acclaim in the Boston Globe [4] [5] and the Boston Phoenix. [6] [7] [8] [9] Concerts took place at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. [10] [11]

Discovery Ensemble's second mission was education. The orchestra presented four Discovery Programs per year, each consisting of two in-school workshops [12] and a matinee concert for children from local schools. [13] The schools' concerts took place at Strand Theatre in Dorchester, Massachusetts. [14]

Discovery Ensemble played live regularly on WGBH Radio and was featured as Critics' Choice on NPR. [15] [16] In December 2009, Pulitzer Prize–winning critic Lloyd Schwartz of the Boston Phoenix named Discovery Ensemble Boston's "Best Kept Secret". [17]

History

The orchestra played its first concert in October 2008 in the Strand Theatre, Dorchester with Ginastera's Variaciones concertantes, Stravinsky's Danses concertantes, and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. [2] [14] [18]

The orchestra was founded because directors Courtney Lewis and David St. George saw the possibility, given the abundance of young professional musicians in Boston, of forming and training a large (40 players) chamber orchestra that could perform at the highest international level.

Discovery Ensemble was particularly associated with schools and community centers in Dorchester. [13]

Reviews

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References

  1. ↑ "ArtsBoston Members". Artsboston.org. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Strand Spotlight Continues With Two Great Performances | City of Boston". Cityofboston.gov. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  3. ↑ "Discovery Ensemble suddenly ceases operations - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "Discovery Ensemble shows exuberance from the start – The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Courtney Lewis and Discovery Ensemble help make classical accessible – The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Schwartz, Lloyd (27 January 2009). "Anniversaries and other occasions – Classical". Thephoenix.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Schwartz, Lloyd (10 June 2009). "Springer vs. Nero! – Classical". Thephoenix.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  8. ↑ Schwartz, Lloyd (13 October 2009). "The roar of the crowd – Classical". Thephoenix.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  9. ↑ Schwartz, Lloyd (4 January 2010). "2009: The year in Classical – Classical". Thephoenix.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Schott Music". Schott Music. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Local movies, theaters, showtimes, events, concerts and festivals – MSN Local Edition Movies & Events". Thingstodo.msn.com. 31 December 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. ↑ "lavidainc". La-vida.org. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Orchestra helps young people discover classical music | Dorchester Reporter". Dotnews.com. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  14. 1 2 Archived 5 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ "WGBH Homepage". Mediaplayer.wgbh.org. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  16. ↑ "Discovery Ensemble". InstantEncore. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  17. ↑ Schwartz, Lloyd (4 January 2010). "2009: The year in Classical – Classical". Thephoenix.com. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "Schott Music". Schott Music. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
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