Ulster Orchestra

The Ulster Orchestra is Northern Ireland's only full-time symphony orchestra and one of the major orchestras in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1966 as a radio orchestra, with János Fürst as its first concertmaster/leader and later Assistant Conductor. [ [http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/5827.html Vivien Schweitzer, "Hungarian Conductor János Fürst Dies at 71". "Playbill Arts", 8 January 2007.] ] The orchestra has existed in its present form since 1981, when the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra was disbanded; this subsequently led to an increase in the orchestra's numbers. It currently employs 63 full-time musicians and 17 administrative support staff, and has toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. The orchestra play the majority of their concerts in the Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall.

Past Principal Conductors have included Bryden Thomson [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DE153CF936A25752C1A967958260 "Bryden Thomson Dies; Scottish Conductor, 63". "New York Times", 15 November 1991.] ] , Vernon Handley, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, and Thierry Fischer. In September 2006, the orchestra announced Kenneth Montgomery as their next Principal Conductor, effective September 2007. Vernon Handley held the title of Conductor Laureate from 2003 until his death in 2008. The orchestras current Associate Composer is Brian Irvine.

The current chief executive of the Ulster Orchestra is David Byers. He was named as interim chief executive in June 2002, and was formally named to the position in March 2003 for a 5-year contract. [ [http://www.gramophone.co.uk/newsMainTemplate.asp?storyID=1700&newssectionID=1 Martin Cullingford, "Byers reappointed as Ulster Orchestra chief executive". "Gramophone", 24 March 2003.] ]

Funding

The orchestra obtains some of its funding from private and commercial sponsorship, but most comes from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, and the BBC. The BBC maintains exclusive distribution rights over the orchestra's performances, which are broadcast locally on Radio Ulster, and nationally on BBC Radio 3. The orchestra has also made over 60 recordings, and makes additional revenue from the sale of these, and from box-office sales. Its annual turnover in 2001/02 was in excess of £3.4 million. Byers has guided the orchestra through recent financial issues, including the increase of a grant from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland from GB £1.34 million (2002) to £1.69 million (2003). [ [http://www.gramophone.co.uk/newsMainTemplate.asp?storyID=1672&newssectionID=1 Martin Cullingford, "Ulster Orchestra gets financial boost". "Gramophone", 27 February 2003.] ]

Education and community outreach

The orchestra undertakes a number of outreach projects, aiming to develop local musical talent and increase future audiences' enjoyment of orchestral music. Musicians from the orchestra regularly hold workshops in schools throughout Northern Ireland, and the orchestra also arranges a series of community outreach projects, such as pre-concert talks and instrument master-classes.

Principal Conductors (partial list)

* Bryden Thomson (1977-1985)
* Vernon Handley (1985-1989)
* Yan Pascal Tortelier (1989-1992)
* En Shao (1992-1995)
* Dmitry Sitkovetsky (1996-2001)
* Thierry Fischer (2001-2006)
* Kenneth Montgomery (2007-present)

References

See also

*Culture of Northern Ireland
*European classical music

External links

* [http://www.ulster-orchestra.org.uk Ulster Orchestra official website]
* [http://www.kennethmontgomery.net Kenneth Montgomery official website]