Austin Symphony Orchestra

Last updated
Austin Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra
Long Center Side Entrance.jpg
Founded1911 (1911)
Location Austin, Texas, United States
Concert hall Long Center for the Performing Arts
Principal conductor Peter Bay
Music directorPeter Bay
Website www.austinsymphony.org

The Austin Symphony Orchestra is the oldest performing group in Austin, Texas, USA. It was founded in 1911.

Contents

History

The inaugural concert of the Austin Symphony Orchestra was held on April 25, 1911. [1] Initially, the orchestra consisted of 28 unpaid members and an unpaid conductor. [2] The orchestra now has over 90 members, but is still not a full-time orchestra. [1] It was not until 1948 that a paid music director was appointed — Ezra Rachlin being the first appointee – and a regular concert series was presented. [1] He remained in the post for 21 years, until 1969. [3]

Rachlin organised a drive-in concert, the world's first, in 1948. The first children's concert was held in 1951. [2]

The Centennial Gala Performance took place on April 28, 2011, with the violinist Itzhak Perlman as soloist, [4] as well as a performance of Alexandre Luigini's Ballet égyptien , which had been played at the first performance a century earlier. [2]

Organization

The current, and eighth, music director is Peter Bay, who has been in the post since 1997. [1] [5] Past directors include Maurice Peress (1970–73), Akira Endo and Sung Kwak. [6]

The symphony plays its regular season concerts in Dell Hall at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Austin. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Symphony Orchestra</span> American symphony orchestra in Boston, MA

The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, the BSO performs most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at Tanglewood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra</span> English orchestra with a remit to serve the South and South West of England

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an English orchestra, founded in 1893 and originally based in Bournemouth. With a remit to serve the South and South West of England, the BSO is administratively based in the adjacent town of Poole, since 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco Symphony</span> American symphony orchestra in San Francisco, California, United States

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS), founded in 1911, is an American orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980 the orchestra has been resident at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in the city's Hayes Valley neighborhood. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus (1972) are part of the organization. Michael Tilson Thomas became the orchestra's music director in 1995, and concluded his tenure in 2020 when Esa-Pekka Salonen took over the position.

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

The Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra also serves as the accompanying orchestra for the Seattle Opera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston Symphony</span> American symphony orchestra

The Houston Symphony is an American orchestra based in Houston, Texas. The orchestra is resident at the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Shaw (conductor)</span> American conductor

Robert Lawson Shaw was an American conductor most famous for his work with his namesake Chorale, with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. He was known for drawing public attention to choral music through his wide-ranging influence and mentoring of younger conductors, the high standard of his recordings, his support for racial integration in his choruses, and his support for modern music, winning many awards throughout his career.

David Lockington, is the Music Director Laureate of the Grand Rapids Symphony located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. Lockington became the 13th music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony in January 1999 and stepped down from the post in May 2015 at the end of his 16th season with the orchestra. Prior to his tenure in Grand Rapids, Lockington served as the music director for the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (1996–2000) and the Long Island Philharmonic (1995–2000). In May 2007, Lockington was named music director of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra in Modesto, California. Since March 2013, Lockington has been the music director of the Pasadena Symphony in Pasadena, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Symphony Orchestra</span> American symphony orchestra based in Washington, DC

The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1930 by cellist Hans Kindler, its principal performing venue is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. They were also the official orchestra of the annual National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth celebrations. The NSO provides an education program that aims to expose its audiences to classical music. They also provide teaching resources to families and teachers. The NSO's educational programs include scholarships programs and opportunities for musically talented high school students who want to pursue a career in orchestral music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Symphony</span> Orchestra based in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

The Oregon Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded as the 'Portland Symphony Society' in 1896, it is the sixth oldest orchestra in the United States, and oldest in the Western United States. Its home venue is the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown Portland's Cultural District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Rachlin</span> Musical artist

Julian Rachlin is a Lithuanian-born violinist, violist and conductor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Antonio Symphony</span> American symphony orchestra based in San Antonio, Texas

The San Antonio Symphony was a full-time professional symphony orchestra based in San Antonio, Texas. Its season ran from late September to early June. Sebastian Lang-Lessing, its music director from 2010 to 2020, was the last to serve in that capacity. The orchestra was a resident organization of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio. In August 2022, the orchestra's musicians reformed as the San Antonio Philharmonic, a name first used in 1914, and announced a ten-concert classical-music series for the 2022–23 season to be given at First Baptist Church of San Antonio, 100 yards from Tobin Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra</span> Israeli orchestra

The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of Israel. Since the 1980s, the JSO has been based in the Henry Crown Symphony Hall, part of the Jerusalem Theater complex.

The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1947, is an orchestra located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The orchestra performs at the Theater for Performing Arts in the Baton Rouge River Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra</span> American symphony orchestra

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Fort Worth, Texas. The orchestra is resident at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall. In addition to its symphonic and pops concert series, the FWSO also collaborates with the Fort Worth Opera, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Southwestern Seminary Master Chorale. and the Children's Education Program of Bass Performance Hall. The FWSO also presents the Concerts In The Garden summer music festival at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Mitchell</span> American conductor (born 1979)

Brett Mitchell is an American conductor, composer, and pianist. He began a three-year term as Artistic Director & Conductor of the Sunriver Music Festival in August 2022. He previously served as music director of the Colorado Symphony from 2017 to 2021, Associate Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra from 2013 to 2017, Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre National de France from 2006 to 2009, Assistant Conductor of the Houston Symphony from 2007 to 2011, Music Director of the Moores Opera Center in Houston from 2012 to 2013, and Music Director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra from 2010 to 2015.

Kevin Patrick Noe is an American conductor, stage director, writer, and trumpeter. He is currently the executive artistic director of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and a regular guest conductor of orchestra, opera, and ballet at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music

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

The Argentine National Symphony Orchestra is the state symphony orchestra of Argentina, based in Buenos Aires.

The Choral Arts Society of Washington is a major choral organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1965 by Norman Scribner, it is regarded as one of the premier symphonic choruses in the United States. The Choral Arts Society of Washington consists of three vocal ensembles; the Choral Arts Chorus, the Choral Arts Chamber Singers, and the Choral Arts Youth Choir.

Benjamin Northey is an Australian conductor, musician and arranger. He has been Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in New Zealand since 2015. He is also the Principal Conductor in Residence of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 2020. He was previously the Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra from 2010-2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black conductors</span>

Black conductors are musicians of African, Caribbean, African-American ancestry and other members of the African diaspora who are musical ensemble leaders who direct classical music performances, such as an orchestral or choral concerts, or jazz ensemble big band concerts by way of visible gestures with the hands, arms, face and head. Conductors of African descent are rare, as the vast majority are male and Caucasian.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Austin 360.com
  2. 1 2 3 Texas Home and Living, 18 March 2011 Archived October 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ezrarachlin.com
  4. "The Austin Symphony". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  5. The Austin Symphony
  6. Gershunoff Artists Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Dinges, Gary (November 17, 2015). "New outdoor concert series planned for Long Center". Austin American Statesman. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2015.