New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra (NBSO) is a professional symphony orchestra based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Founded in 1915, the NBSO's main performance venue is the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford.
History[edit]
The NBSO was founded in 1915 by the music educator Clarence Arey and was originally called the New Bedford Philharmonic.[1] Arey created the orchestra to provide quality performances of classical music to his community along with a chance for his music students to continue their studies outside of school activities. The initial orchestra had fifty members, including Arey himself, who would sometimes join the violins or play trumpet when sections of the orchestra marched in parades.[2] Arey retired from the orchestra in 1951. Concertmaster Harrie Johnston assumed the position as music director and served for four seasons.
Josef Cobert took over the organization in 1956; the symphony became a non-profit organization in 1958 and gained its current name.[3][4] Cobert retired as music director in 1967 and joined the music faculty at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth).[5]
John Pandolfi, professional clarinetist as well as conductor, led the NBSO for four seasons, 1968 through 1971.[6] Arthur Renzulli then held the position from 1971-1976 and Anthony Rego from 1977-1978. During the mid-1970s, the NBSO was on the brink of folding as the core group of musicians broke off.
In 1978, Rudolf Schlegel was hired to transform and renew the orchestra. Schlegel was well-known in the area from his tenure with the Plymouth Philharmonic. During his time in Plymouth, Schlegel was able to turn around the Philharmonic to a blossoming orchestra[7] and Administration had hoped he could do the same for New Bedford. However, Schlegel retired as music director of the NBSO in 1981 with no transformation.
New board president Lillian Lamoureux was left with a crisis. She turned to Dr. Eleanor Carlson, a well-known pianist and chair of the music department at UMass Dartmouth, for advice. Lamoureux and Carlson approached conductor Leonard Atherton for the position of music director, and he joined the team for a single season, 1981-1982. After Atherton's resignation, Lamoureux and Carlson hired Eiji Oue who at twenty-five years old is the youngest conductor of the NBSO ever.[8][not in citation given] Oue, a protégé of Seiji Ozawa, remained with the NBSO for two seasons.
In 1984, F. John Adams, a well-respected choral conductor and faculty member at the New England Conservatory, was named music director.[9] Over his nearly two decades with the symphony,[10] Adams brought the ensemble to new levels, and when he left the orchestra after the 2001-2002 season, he left behind an ensemble of considerable reputation, a unit of entirely professional musicians that for decades had been all volunteer.
Philip Rice took over as music director in 2002.[11] Rice began to attract soloists of international acclaim with his artistic versatility. The symphony's new programming explored works also performed by prominent orchestras. In 2006, David MacKenzie became the symphony's music director. During his time with the symphony, MacKenzie was known for his heavy involvement in the development of the artistic and educational programs of the NBSO.[12] After ten years with the symphony, Mackenzie stepped down after the 2015-2016 centennial[13] season.
During the 2016-2017 season, the symphony selected several potential music director candidates to conduct single concerts with the orchestra.[14] Yaniv Dinur, who conducted the January 2017 concert, was named Music Director beginning with the 2017-2018 season.[15] Dinur also holds the position of Associate Conductor with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and has won several awards for his work, including the 2017 and 2016 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Awards, 2nd Prize at the 2009 Mata International Conducting Competition in Mexico, and the Yuri Ahronovitch 1st Prize in the 2005 Aviv Conducting Competition in Israel.[16]
Today, the NBSO is a professional orchestra that annually presents a concert series of classical and pops music, a chamber music series, and innovative educational programs for the children of South Coast. The NBSO also presents community concerts[17] and participates in community events such as AHA!
Activities[edit]
Concert series[edit]
The NBSO performs an annual concert series of classical and pops music at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. Internationally renowned guest artists have included pianists Yefim Bronfman, Roberto Plano, and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, along with violinists Ariadne Daskalakis and Rachel Barton Pine, Grammy award winning guitarist Jason Vieaux, Disney star Jodi Benson, Broadway sensation Matthew Morrison, and cellist Zuill Bailey.
South Coast Chamber Music Series[edit]
In 2014, the South Coast Chamber Music Society merged with the NBSO. The newly created Chamber Music Series is dedicated to presenting chamber music to residents of southeastern Massachusetts. Janice Weber serves as Artistic Director.
Educational programming[edit]
The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra's educational programs reach over 25,000 children annually[18] with innovative programs such as Learning in Concert, Music in the Morning, and Young People's Concerts. These programs provide engaging musical experiences for the children in local schools and have an especially strong presence in New Bedford and Fall River.
Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestra[edit]
The Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras (SEMAYO) program was established in 2008 as the New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestra.[19] In 2018, the name was changed to Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras[20] to better reflect the regional nature of the young musicians involved. Rehearsals are held at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's College of Visual and Performing Arts. Students from preschool beginners to advanced college players participate in one of five ensembles and perform together at several annual concerts. Members of the Symphony Orchestra ensemble perform side-by-side with the professional musicians of the NBSO at the annual Holiday Pops concert.
References[edit]
- ↑ Palmer, Lisa. "NBSO is primed for 90th season". SouthCoastToday.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ Powers, Keith (2014). Making Music Matter. New Bedford Symphony Orchestra. ISBN 978-0-9761669-0-0. Search this book on
- ↑ (1958) "Symphony Organization Formed in New Bedford," Steuben Advocate, March 24, p. 6.
- ↑ (1958) "Group to Promote Music," The Times Record (Evening Edition), October 31, p. 4.
- ↑ Lovinger, Robert. "The Maestro steps down". SouthCoastToday.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ "John Pandolfi". tricountysymphonicband.org. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ McDermott, Beth. "Plymouth - a look back: April 26". Wicked Local Plymouth. GateHouse News. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ Sharpe, Roderick; Stierman, Jeanne (2008). Maestros in America: Conductors in the 21st Century. Scarecrow Press. p. 187. ISBN 978-0-8108-6022-3.
The same year he [Eiji Oue] took on the directorships of the New Bedford (Mass.) SO, the Boston Mozarteum Orchestra, and the Greater Boston Youth Orchestra.
Search this book on
- ↑ "Archive: F. John Adams". necmusic.edu. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ Bliss, Gil (2011-06-16). "F. John Adams, 66; his work sharing music touched many". Boston.com. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ Barnes, Jennette. "Taking a new direction". SouthCoastToday.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ Robertson-Lorant, Laurie. "Review: 'Stupendous' concert concludes MacKenzie's tenure". SouthCoastToday.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ "Maestro David MacKenzie to Retire After 2015-16 Season – New Bedford Guide". www.newbedfordguide.com. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ "New Bedford Symphony Orchestra announces season schedule". SouthCoastToday.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ↑ Barnes, Jennette. "Symphony sees humor, energy, youth in new conductor". SouthCoastToday.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ "Yaniv Dinur, Conductor". Yaniv Dinur, Conductor. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ↑ "Sights and Sounds: NBSO concert at Kilburn Mills". SouthCoastToday.com. GateHouse Media. December 24, 2018.
- ↑ "New Bedford Symphony Orchestra announces exciting 2018-2019 season". Wicked Local Rochester. GateHouse News. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
- ↑ Powers, Keith. "Timeline: New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, 1915-2015". SouthCoastToday.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
- ↑ "Former NBSYO Rebrands as Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras". The Herald News. August 29, 2018.
External Links[edit]
- Official website of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
- Official website of the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
- Official website of the Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestra
This article "New Bedford Symphony Orchestra" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:New Bedford Symphony Orchestra. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
