Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra

Last updated
Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (SSO)
Orchestra
Founded1927
Concert hall TCU Place
Principal conductorEric Paetkau
Website www.saskatoonsymphony.org

The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is a professional orchestra based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan administered by the non-profit Saskatoon Symphony Society. The orchestra was founded in 1927 [1] as an amateur orchestra, but today has 10 core members and up to 50 sessional musicians. Arthur Collingwood, who was Professor of Music at the University of Saskatchewan, presented the first SSO concert. [2] The SSO received major funding from the Carnegie Institute in 1931. [3] The Canada Council, the Saskatchewan Arts Board, and the City of Saskatoon have all provided sponsorship of the SSO through the years. In the spring, the symphony holds a Saskatoon Symphony Book & Music Sale to raise funds for the orchestra. [4] The SSO itself offers students grants and hosted a national cello competition in 1990. [5] Dwaine Nelson was responsible for the development of a full-time core of musicians, initially with a size of six, but later expanded to the present-day ten members. In the summer of 2014, the SSO announced that Maestro Victor Sawa would move into the position of Conductor Emeritus at the end of the 84th season. In March 2015, the SSO announced Eric Paetkau as the 16th Music Director of the orchestra. [6]

Contents

University of Saskatchewan Department of Music, University Chorus, Greystone Singers, Saskatoon Chamber Singers, Saskatoon Children's Choir, Regina Symphony Orchestra, Saskatoon Youth Orchestra, and the Amati Quartet have all produced concerts with the SSO. [5] [7] The Canadian Opera Company Ensemble, National Ballet, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet have all performed with accompaniment provided by the SSO. [5] The SSO celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2006. [7]

History

In 1903, William Preston, who was also involved with the Saskatoon Oratorio Society, began an amateur orchestra in Saskatoon. [8] Fredrick William Musselwhite conducted the Saskatoon orchestra as early as 1905 with John Jackson as concertmaster. [9] In 1913, John Jackson began a Saskatoon orchestra, followed by a temporary orchestra established in 1924 by Allan Clifton. [5] In 1931 the current orchestra was established, under the direction of Arthur Collingwood. [10]

Music directors, concertmasters, and current artistic leadership

The conductors of the SSO, [5] a position that includes artistic direction, have been:

Performing venue

Currently performances are held at TCU Place. Historically, Bessborough Hotel’s ballroom, the Capitol Theatre, and Convocation Hall at the University of Saskatchewan have provided venues for the SSO performances. [2]

Concert series

Each year the SSO presents a varied and dynamic range of concerts through multiple series and specials.

The Masters Series features the orchestra in performance of standard orchestral repertoire, concertos, symphonies, from all eras of music including living composers and Canadian repertoire. Guest artists have included James Ehnes, Angela Cheng, [12] Jane Coop, Maureen Forrester, Jon Vickers, Angela Hewitt, and Pinchas Zukerman.

The Pops Series presents concerts featuring pop music from jazz to rock - performances have featured the music of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, and Led Zeppelin.

Symphony Chamber Players began in 1985. Great Music for Kids introduced children to orchestral music in 1984. 1993 saw the inauguration of Music for a Sunday Afternoon, the series is now known as Sunday Chamber Series. [5]

Canadian Federation of Musicians

Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra is a member of Canadian Federation of Musicians. Canadian Federation of Musicians purports to help musicians who may need assistance with any number of issues related to the recording and performing of their craft. Services range from immigration, media recordings, symphonic and theatrical matters, touring, freelance musicians and membership services, contract negotiations and administration and royalty streams. [13]

Recordings

In 2005, the SSO, under the direction of Earl Stafford, recorded a program of music written by Neil Currie. The resulting album, entitled Passionscape, was nominated for Outstanding Classical Composition at the 2006 Western Canada Music Awards. The album includes pieces with solo artists Alain Trudel and Allen Harrington. The SSO also records regularly for CBC Radio.

See also

Related Research Articles

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1906, the TSO gave regular concerts at Massey Hall until 1982, and since then has performed at Roy Thomson Hall. The TSO also manages the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO). The TSO's most recent music director was Peter Oundjian, from 2004 to 2018. Sir Andrew Davis, conductor laureate of the TSO, has most recently served as the orchestra's interim artistic director. Gustavo Gimeno is music director of the TSO, since the 2020–2021 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Symphony Orchestra</span> Australian symphony orchestra

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is an Australian symphony orchestra that was initially formed in 1908. Since its opening in 1973, the Sydney Opera House has been its home concert hall. Simone Young is the orchestra's chief conductor and first woman in the role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Canada's Prairie Provinces</span>

The music of the Canadian Prairies includes the music of the Prairie Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Music in the Canadian province Saskatchewan, one of the Prairie Provinces, includes a variety of genres including Indigenous music, folk, country, jazz, and classical traditions.

David Leon Kaplan, was a Chicago-born, U.S.-educated Canadian composer, university professor of music, performer, and conductor.

The Amati Quartet was a string quartet, associated with the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The ensemble performed with four instruments made by the Amati family of luthiers, of Cremona Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore Symphony Orchestra</span>

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is a symphony orchestra based in Singapore. Its principal concert venue is the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The orchestra also gives concerts at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, and performs about 100 concerts per year. The orchestra was first established In 1978 with Choo Hoey its resident director. The orchestra's music director from 1997 to 2019 was Shui Lan, and Hans Graf as its Chief Conductor from 2020 onward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Symphony Orchestra</span> Orchestra in Massachusetts, USA

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Springfield, Massachusetts. It performs at Symphony Hall, a part of the Springfield Municipal Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conexus Arts Centre</span> Performing arts centre in Regina, Canada

The Conexus Arts Centre, known from 1970 till 2006 as the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts, is a theatre complex located within Wascana Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, which largely replaces former theatres downtown and Darke Hall on the original campus of Regina College, also in Wascana Centre but north of Wascana Lake.

The Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) was founded by Frank Laubach, in Regina, Saskatchewan, as the Regina Orchestral Society in 1908, giving its inaugural concert December 3 of that same year. Becoming the Regina Choral and Orchestral Society in 1919, and merging briefly with the Regina Male Voice Choir as the Regina Philharmonic Association in 1924, it returned to independent status as the Regina Symphony in 1926, presenting its first regular season (1927–1928) under W. Knight Wilson.

Ilan Volkov is an Israeli orchestral conductor.

The Sudbury Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian symphony orchestra based Sudbury, Ontario. Incorporated in 1975 as a not-for-profit registered charity, the orchestra performs a season of full orchestra concerts and chamber music concerts at a variety of venues in Sudbury, including the Sanctuary of Glad Tidings Church, on Regent Street South, and Fraser Auditorium at Laurentian University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arbor Creek, Saskatoon</span> Neighbourhood in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Arbor Creek is a primarily residential neighbourhood located in northeast Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is mostly made up of low-density single detached dwellings. As of 2006, the area is home to 4,654 residents. The neighbourhood is considered a high-income area, with an average family income of $99,631, an average dwelling value of $327,262 and a home ownership rate of 92.5%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanghai Symphony Orchestra</span>

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra in Shanghai, China. Its music director is Yu Long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor Symphony Orchestra</span> Canadian orchestra

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stavanger Symphony Orchestra</span> Norwegian symphony orchestra

The Stavanger Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Stavanger, Norway. The SSO principal venue is the Stavanger Concert Hall, performing in the Fartein Valen concert hall.

TCU Place, formerly known as the Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium, is a 104,000-square-foot (9,700 m2) convention and arts centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Situated in the Central Business District it is located next to Midtown Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffery Straker</span> Canadian folk/roots singer-songwriter

Jeffery Straker is a Canadian folk/roots singer-songwriter, based in Punnichy, Saskatchewan. His piano-based folk/roots musical style has drawn comparisons to Kris Kristofferson, Elton John, Neil Young, and Rufus Wainwright

References

  1. ↑ "Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra". The Canadian Encyclopedia of Music. Historica Foundation of Canada. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  2. 1 2 Conway, Karen (2006). "Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan". Canadian Plains Research Center. University of Regina. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  3. ↑ "CanadaHelps – Charity Profile: Saskatoon Symphony Society" . Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  4. ↑ Mike, Pence (2007). "Saskatoon Symphony Book & Music Sale" . Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Elvin, Florrie V.; James, Kevin; Gillis, Glen (2006). "Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Foundation of Canada. Retrieved 2008-08-02.[ dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Regina conductor adds Saskatoon job". CBC News. October 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  7. 1 2 "University of Saskatchewan Amati Quartet in Residence : About the ..." 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  8. ↑ "Saskatoon, Sask". The Canadian Encyclopedia of Music. Historica Foundation of Canada. 2008. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  9. ↑ Musselwhite, Jamie. "Toronto Piano Tuning – Jamie's History". Toronto Piano Tuning by Jamie Musselwhite. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  10. ↑ Leeper, Muriel. Sounds of music, 1931-1981 : a fifty-year history of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Houghton Boston, Saskatoon, 1981. page 6.
  11. ↑ "On Campus News Jan 23, 1998, 1931 founding of Saskatoon Symphony by Collingwood established perpetual U of S involvement in the Orchestra". U of S : Communications : OCN : Office of Communications. University of Saskatchewan. January 23, 1998. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  12. ↑ Paulson, Joanne (2007-11-14). "In perfect harmony". Star-Phoenix. p. 23. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  13. ↑ "About Canadian Federation of Musicians :: Canadian Federation of Musicians".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.