Erie Philharmonic

Infobox musical artist
Name = Erie Philharmonic


Background = classical_ensemble
Birth_name = Erie Symphony Orchestra
Erie Second Symphony Orchestra
Second Philharmonic
Origin = flagicon|USA Erie, Pennsylvania
Genre = Classical
Occupation = Symphony orchestra
Years_active = 1913-1916; 1921-1926; 1947-"present"
Associated_acts = Erie Philharmonic Chorus
Erie Junior Philharmonic
URL = [http://www.eriephil.org/ www.EriePhil.org]
Current_members = Music Director
Daniel Meyer
Music Director Emeritus
Walter Hendl
Past_members = Franz Köhler

The Erie Philharmonic is a professional orchestra located in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Philharmonic has held its performances at the Warner Theatre on State Street in downtown Erie since 1974.

History

The musicians union attempted to form a symphonic orchestra in the late 1890s, but there was no popular support in Erie and the effort died. Another attempt to produce a symphony occurred in April 1913, when a group of 40 to 50 musicians rehearsed for months for a performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and Edvard Grieg's "Peer Gynt Suite". The concert never took place. [cite web | author= | title=About the Philharmonic | url=http://www.eriephil.org/learn-about | publisher=Erie Philharmonic | date= | accessdate=2007-09-14]

It was only months later, on 30 November 1913, that the "Erie Symphony Orchestra", Erie Phil's earliest iteration, was born. It lasted just over two years, with its final concert held on 20 February 1916. On 30 January 1921, the orchestra was reorganized as the Second Symphony Orchestra. It lasted five years, with its final concert held on 2 May 1926.cite web | author= | title=A Historical Timeline | url=http://www.eriephil.org/learn-about/history | publisher=Erie Philharmonic | accessdate=2007-09-14]

The First Philharmonic held its first concert on 8 February 1921. The Second Philharmonic held its first concert on 7 February 1932. The Erie Phil disbanded for the duration of World War II, then incorporated on 23 September 1947. It has performed in Erie ever since.

The Erie Philharmonic Chorus was formed in 1953, and the Erie Junior Philharmonic was established in 1956. [cite web | author= | title=Erie Philharmonic Chorus | url=http://www.eriephil.org/learn-about/chorus | publisher=Erie Philharmonic | date= | accessdate=2007-09-14]

The Erie Phil received a US$15,000 grant from the Erie Community Foundation to publicize its effort to find a new conductor for the orchestra. [cite web | author= | title=Thirty Charities to Receive Over $247,000 for Helping Today Quality of Life Grants | url=http://www.eriecommunityfoundation.org/news-and-events/2007/04/thirty-charities-to-receive-over-247000-for-helping-today-quality-of-life-grants | publisher=Erie Community Foundation | date=April 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-14]

Music directors

References

*cite news | author=Dave Richards | title=And the Baton Goes to... | url=http://www.marinechat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6704 | work=Erie Times-News | page=1A, 4A| date=2007-06-09 | accessdate=2007-09-14
*cite paper | url=http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/mus/pdf/MUSMAHLE.pdf | title=Fritz Mahler Papers | version= | format=.PDF | publisher=New York Public Library for Performing Arts Music Division | author=Thea Constantine | date=May 2004 | accessdate= 2007-09-14

External links

* [http://www.eriephil.org/ Erie Philharmonic official website]