Winston-Salem Symphony
The Winston-Salem Symphony (WSS), is a regional per-service orchestra in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Its performance season presently includes six Classics Series masterworks programs, five Plugged-In Pops Series programs, two Discovery Series children's concerts, an annual performance of Handel’s Messiah[1], a Concert for Community featuring WSS and Youth Symphony musicians performing side-by-side[2], a free Holiday Concert benefitting the Salvation Army Food Pantry, and a multitude of other educational and community engagement programs. The WSS also acts as the house orchestra for productions by Piedmont Opera[3]. The 2018-2019 concert season marks the first concerts of a new Symphony Unbound series which pairs WSS musicians and popular artists from differing musical genres in non-traditional venues throughout the local community.
Established in 1946 originally as a civic orchestra on the campus of Salem College, the Winston-Salem Symphony incorporated in 1952 and hired its first full-time conductor in 1955. Four permanent music directors have led the WSS since its inception:
- James Lerch (1946-1949)
- John Iuele (1952-1978)
- Peter Perret (1979-2004)
- Robert Moody (2005-2018)During the 2018-2019 concert season, five candidates from around the world will lead Classics Series[4] concerts with one candidate to be named the next music director of the Winston-Salem Symphony.
Music and musicians[edit]
The WSS employs 74 per-service musicians, many of whom are faculty members at area colleges and universities including the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, and Salem College. Guest artists who have collaborated with the WSS in recent seasons include Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell[5], Renée Fleming[6], Yo-Yo Ma[7], Van Cliburn, James Galway[8], Chris Thile, Rhiannon Giddens, Chris Botti, Doc Severinsen, and Ricky Skaggs, among others. Over the past several seasons, the WSS has commissioned or co-commissioned new works from composers such as Chris Thile, Mason Bates, Margaret Sandresky, Viet Cuong, Dan Locklair, and Lawrence Dillon.
Venues[edit]
R.J. Reynolds Auditorium[edit]
The Winston-Salem Symphony performs pops and children's programming in the 1898-seat R. J. Reynolds Auditorium on the campus of R. J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem. Built in 1924, this historic landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places was extensively restored and renovated in 2002.
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- ↑ Journal, Lynn Felder Winston-Salem. "Gilliam making 'Messiah' debut with Winston-Salem Symphony and Chorus". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
- ↑ O’Donnell, Lisa. "Symphonies present Concert for Community Feb. 2". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
- ↑ "CVNC - Outstanding Piedmont Opera Performance of La Bohème". cvnc.org. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
- ↑ "OPENING ACT: Could Vladimir Kulenovic be the Symphony's next conductor?". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
- ↑ Journal, Lynn Felder/Winston-Salem. "Joshua Bell: Superstar violinist performing with symphony". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
- ↑ REPORTER, Ken Keuffel, JOURNAL. "Opera Cheer: Soprano Renée Fleming to perform with Winston-Salem Symphony". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
- ↑ Journal, Lynn Felder/Winston-Salem. "Moody, symphony celebrate 10th season with Yo-Yo Ma, more". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
- ↑ Journal, Susan Gilmor/Winston-Salem. "'Man with golden flute,' symphony to perform". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
