Omaha Symphony Orchestra

The Omaha Symphony Orchestra is a community-based orchestra performing numerous concerts annually in Omaha, Nebraska and throughout the region. Originally established in 1921, the orchestra has continued yearly.

About

The Omaha Symphony presents more than 200 live performances from September through June. In addition to MasterWorks, Pops, Chamber, Discovery, Light Classics and Family series concerts, the orchestra tours both Nebraska and Iowa providing education and community engagement concerts and special events. Combined with radio broadcasts, the orchestra reaches an estimated annual audience of 300,000 annually.^[1] With a full-time core of 39 virtuosi, the full orchestra currently includes 92 musicians.

The regular season includes a seven-concert "Masterworks" series, six "Symphony Pops" performances, a three concert "Family Series", and a three concert "Casual Classics" series, all at the Holland Performing Arts Center. The orchestra also performs at dozens of outreach and school concerts through their Mission: Imagination!, Concerts for Youth, Music Alive!, and Celebrate Creativity programs, reaching more than 40,000 students and preschoolers, among others.^[2]

The Symphony also performs a six-concert chamber orchestra series at the Strauss Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The symphony's current musical directors are Thomas Wilkins and Ernest Richardson (Resident Conductor since 1993).^[3] In addition to performing in Omaha, the Symphony also performs in Lincoln at the Lied Center for Performing Arts annually.^[4]

Membership

The members of the Omaha Symphony have ranged from seasoned community members to professional artists.^{[5] [6]}

Guild

The Omaha Symphony Guild has a mission to, "promote the growth and development of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra for the pleasure and education of residents of Greater Omaha and the States of Nebraska and Iowa." With a history extending since 1956, the Guild has had a hand in organizing a youth symphony, community outreach events and study circles on music, among other activities throughout the region. In 2006 and 2007 the Guild hosted a "Debutante Ball", a Valentine's Day Tea, and a Designer Derby and Home Tour.^[7]

Leadership

The musical directors of the Omaha Symphony have been:

1. Henry Cox (1921-1924)
2. Sandor Harmati (1925-1929)
3. Joseph Littau (1930-1932)
4. Rudolph Ganz (1936-1941)
5. Richard Duncan (1947-1958)
6. Joseph Levine (1958-1970)
7. Yuri Krasnapolsky (1970-1974)
8. Thomas Briccetti (1975-1983)
9. Bruce Hangen (1984-1994)
10. Victor Yampolsky (1995-2005)
11. Thomas Wilkins (2005-Present)

See also

• Culture in Omaha
• Music in Omaha

References

1. ^ http://www.omahasymphony.org/orchestra.asp accessdate = 2008-07-03
2. ^ (nd) "Omaha Symphony," Charity Navigator Rating. Retrieved 7/13/07.
3. ^ (nd) History of the Omaha Symphony. Omaha Symphony. Retrieved 7/13/07.
4. ^ (2007) "Omaha Symphony," University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Retrieved 7/13/07.
5. ^ (nd) Musician Biographies. Omaha Symphony Musicians Organization. Retrieved 7/13/07.
6. ^ (nd) Omaha Symphony Roster of Musicians. Omaha Symphony Musicians Organization. Retrieved 7/13/07.
7. ^ (nd) History. Omaha Symphony Guild. Retrieved 7/13/07.

External links

• Omaha Symphony Orchestra
• Omaha Symphony Guild
• Omaha Symphony Blog
• Omaha Symphony Facebook
• Omaha Symphony Musicians Organization