Jacksonville Symphony

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Jacksonville Symphony
Orchestra
Founded1949
Concert hallRobert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts
Principal conductor Courtney Lewis
Website www.jaxsymphony.org

The Jacksonville Symphony is an American orchestra based in Jacksonville, Florida. The orchestra is resident at the Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The Jacksonville Symphony Association was founded in September 1949. [3] The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert on 8 March 1950 at the George Washington Hotel, under the direction of Van Lier Lanning. [4] Lanning was the orchestra's first music director, from 1950 to 1951.

The Jacksonville Symphony has performed twice at Carnegie Hall, with its first Carnegie Hall concert in May 1972 under Willis Page, [5] the orchestra's fifth music director, from 1971 to 1983. The orchestra's second Carnegie Hall concert appearance was in January 1998, during the tenure of Roger Nierenberg, [6] Page's successor as music director (from 1984 to 1998).

The orchestra's current music director is Courtney Lewis, since 2015. The orchestra has extended Lewis' contract as its music director several times, first in August 2020 through the 2023-2024 season, [7] subsequently in October 2022 through June 2027 [8] and most recently in December 2025 through the 2031-2032 season. [9]

The orchestra has been featured on radio relays on WJCT Public Radio, and on National Public Radio's Performance Today programme. [10] The orchestra also gives educational ensemble performances in regional schools, including Spring Park Elementary, and has a Jump Start Strings educational programme directed towards children.

The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus are affiliated with the Jacksonville Symphony. Nathaniel Efthimiou is the current music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the current associate conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony. Na'Zir McFadden is the current assistant conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony. Donald McCullough is the current director of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus.

Music directors

Recordings

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Young, Marilyn (September 25, 2014). "Courtney Lewis finding a new sound with Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra". Jax Daily Record . Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ Patton, Charlie (July 15, 2016). "Arts Notes: Symphony showed rise in ticket sales and contributed income last season". Florida Times Union . Archived from the original on July 9, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  3. ↑ Tom Szaroleta (September 21, 2024). "Saturday proclaimed Jacksonville Symphony Day to mark 75th anniversary". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ Edward O'Gorman (March 19, 1950). "Orchestra in Florida: Jacksonville Creates New 70-Piece Ensemble". The New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  5. ↑ Dan Scanlan (January 10, 2013). "Willis Page, Jacksonville's 'Beloved Maestro' dies at 94". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  6. ↑ James R. Oestreich (January 24, 1998). "Music Review: Von Stade Sings in a Work About Her Father at War". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  7. ↑ Tom Szaroleta (August 12, 2020). "Symphony extends Courtney Lewis's contract for three years". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Jacksonville Symphony Extends Contract with Music Director Courtney Lewis" (PDF) (Press release). Jacksonville Symphony. October 10, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Jacksonville Symphony Extends Music Director Courtney Lewis' Contract Through 2032" (PDF) (Press release). Jacksonville Symphony. December 10, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  10. ↑ "The Top 100 Women Leaders of Jacksonville for 2022". Women We Admire. March 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Collection M12-11". Thomas G. Carpenter Library . University of North Florida. 1961–2012. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Jacksonville Symphony's first CD is now on sale". The Florida Times-Union . April 22, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2016.

Further reading

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