Miami Symphony Orchestra
The Miami Symphony Orchestra, better known as MISO, is Miami’s hometown not-for-profit symphony. Composed of 80 musicians, it is based in South Florida. Its headquarters are located in The Miami Design District, an emblematic area of the city. Its regular seasons of concerts run from October to April, and take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center–Knight Concert Hall, the Moore Building Elastika at Miami Design District, and also at selected open space parks. Eduardo Marturet is the current Music Director and Conductor. In addition to the concert seasons, MISO conducts arts and education programs for children at its headquarters. It also provides low-cost or no-cost tickets to students, senior citizens, first responders, active military and veterans in South Florida. The Miami Symphony Orchestra is unique in the United States as it was founded by a Hispanic conductor, conducted by a Hispanic Director, the majority of the members of the Board of Directors are Hispanic, and the orchestra members are of 28 different nationalities.
History[edit]
1989–2006:[edit]
The Miami Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1989 by Cuban-born Maestro Manuel Ochoa (1925-2006) who gathered 80 musicians, most of whom were from the city’s large multi-ethnic community. Maestro Ochoa was the Artistic Director and Conductor. Sofia Ochoa was co-founder and Executive Director. It started out playing pop concerts at the Grand Ballroom of the Miami Inter-Continental hotel.[1] When the annual seasons were implemented, twelve concerts were performed each season at the Lincoln Theatre and Wertheim Hall at Florida International University. Despite indifferent critical notices, the Miami Symphony started drawing large and enthusiastic crowds, reaching a prized Latin audience.[2]
In June 2000, under the direction of Maestro Ochoa, the orchestra fulfilled a lifelong dream performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The program featured music by Joaquin Turina, Joaquin Rodrigo and Alberto Ginastera, and culminated with Saint Saen's masterpiece, Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony). In spite of the fact that the supported trip evoked a few feedback, the Carnegie concert was a source of pride and neighborhood bragging rights for the ensemble.[2]
In 2005, Mr. Ochoa appointed Venezuelan conductor and composer Eduardo Marturet as the Orchestra’s Associate Principal Conductor.
2006–present:[edit]
In 2006, due to Mr. Ochoa’s declining health, Eduardo Marturet stepped in for most of that year season’s events.(2) He had been leading orchestras throughout three different continents, and was Mr. Ochoa’s clear choice to appoint him as the new Music Director and Conductor of the Miami Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Manuel Ochoa, at 80, passed away on July 15th, 2006. Mr. Marturet made a commitment to Mr. Ochoa that he would transform the Orchestra into a professional one.[3]
Under the leadership of Maestro Eduardo Marturet, a new stage of MISO began: more difficult repertoire was programmed, higher standards were set, more funds were invested. Very talented musicians joined MISO for the leading roles, such as Honduran-born French player Hector Rodriguez as the principal horn; Venezuelan Luis Gomez-Imbert as the new principal double bass; Jean-Claude Misset as the principal trumpet; Miami native Daniel Andai as the Concertmaster, leading the first violins since 2008.
In 2009, Sofia Ochoa resigned from the position of Executive Director of the Orchestra.
Performance venues or concert halls[edit]
The Miami Symphony Orchestra played its first seasons at the Lincoln Theatre and Wertheim Hall at Florida International University. In February 2007, it made its first appearance at the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. Since 2008, the Adrienne Arsht Center–Knight Concert Hall and The Moore Building-Elastika at Miami Design District have become the favorite venues. The MISO also performs at outdoor city venues like the Downtown Doral park and the Bass Museum in Miami Beach, among others.
Conductors / Music Directors[edit]
- Manuel Ochoa (1925–2005)
- Eduardo Marturet (2006–present)
Recordings (Discography)[edit]
Starting in 2015, the Miami Symphony has been producing a yearly seasonal CD with the best performances of each season.
Management[edit]
Funding[edit]
The Miami Symphony Orchestra receives grants from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and is designated a Major Cultural Organization. The MISO also receives grants from The Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council, the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.[4]
Executives Committee Members[edit]
- Rafael Diaz-Balart, Board of Directors Chairman
- Robert Rodriguez, Board of Directors Vice-Chairman
- Peggy J. Garcia, Board of Directors Secretary
- Eduardo A. Sarasola, Board of Directors Treasurer
- Daniel Andai
- Eduardo Marturet
- Fernando Duprat
- Jerry Haar
References[edit]
- ↑ Will, Richard (2013-05-02), "The symphony and the classical orchestra", The Cambridge Companion to the Symphony, Cambridge University Press, pp. 313–328, doi:10.1017/cco9781139021425.016, ISBN 978-1-139-02142-5, retrieved 2020-11-17
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Johnson, Lawrence A. (July 18, 2006). "Manuel Ochoa, 80, Founded Miami Symphony". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
- ↑ "Music to Our Ears: MISO enters the global stage". Community News Releases. Miami’s Community Newspapers. April 1, 2019.
- ↑ "The Miami Symphony Orchestra". Daniel Pearl World Music Days.
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