Founded in 1947, the orchestra began as an occasional group of amateur musicians performing four concerts each year, with John Manley Barnett as its first music director, from 1947 to 1948. In subsequent years, music faculty from Arizona State University joined the ensemble, which attained part-time status. During the music directorship of Theo Alcántara, from 1978 to 1988, the orchestra achieved full-time status in 1983.[1][2]
During the music directorship of James Sedares, from 1989 to 1995, the orchestra recorded commercially for KOCH International Classics.[3]Hermann Michael was principal guest conductor and artistic adviser of the orchestra for two seasons, and then its music director from 1997 to 2004.[4]
Michael Christie was music director of the orchestra from 2005 to 2013. In 2011, Jim Ward became president and chief executive officer of the orchestra, and negotiated financial restructuring to address fiscal deficits and financial challenges.[5][6] With Christie, the orchestra recorded commercially for Naxos Records. Christie was subsequently music director laureate of the orchestra from 2013 to 2016.[7]
In February 2014, the orchestra named Tito Muñoz as its 11th music director,[8] after two guest-conducting appearances by Muñoz with the orchestra.[9]
In January 2020, the orchestra announced the appointment of Suzanne Wilson as its next president and chief executive officer, effective 21 January 2020, in succession to Ward following his retirement from the post.[10] In March 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting concert cancellations, the orchestra furloughed its musicians for the remainder of the 2019-2020 season, along with reductions in its administrative and artistic personnel, and salary reductions for remaining staff.[11] In August 2020, the orchestra announced the cancellation of its 2020-2021 concert season, the first US orchestra to cancel its planned 2020-2021 season in its entirety, again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
The Orchestra resumed performing for the 2021-22 season, opening the season with a program of Romantic Era music featuring violin soloist Giora Schmidt on October 22, 2021.
^Chris Casacchia (2005-09-11). "Symphony begins new chapter with much-improved bottom line". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
^"Copland on CD: A Top 10". National Public Radio / NPR Music. 2004-11-08. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
^Melinda Bargreen (2005-09-02). "Conductor Hermann Michael, 1937-2005, cherished by local musicians". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
^Angela Gonzales (2014-02-21). "Phoenix Symphony taps Tito Muñoz to serve as music director". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
^Brianna Bradley (2017-10-20). "C-Suite: Phoenix Symphony CEO brings private sector management style to nonprofit world". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
^"Outgoing Christie named 'laureate' of Phoenix Symphony". East Valley Tribune. 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
^"Internationally Acclaimed Conductor Tito Muñoz Takes the Baton as Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
^Kerry Lengyel (2014-02-21). "Phoenix symphony chooses new music director". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
^Angela Gonzales (2014-02-21). "Phoenix Symphony taps Tito Muñoz to serve as music director". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
^"An important update about our 2019/20 Season and The Phoenix Symphony" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
Stephen Lemons, 'Michael Christie and the Ongoing Rumble in the Phoenix Symphony'. Phoenix New Times (blog entry), 23 March 2009
October 28, 2023
phoenix, symphony, american, symphony, orchestra, based, phoenix, arizona, orchestra, performs, primarily, hall, only, full, time, professional, orchestra, state, arizona, image, hall, copper, square, phoenix, arizona, contents, history, references, music, dir. The Phoenix Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Phoenix Arizona The orchestra performs primarily at Phoenix Symphony Hall and is the only full time professional orchestra in the state of Arizona Image of Phoenix Symphony Hall Copper Square Phoenix Arizona Contents 1 History 2 References 3 Music directors 4 External linksHistory editFounded in 1947 the orchestra began as an occasional group of amateur musicians performing four concerts each year with John Manley Barnett as its first music director from 1947 to 1948 In subsequent years music faculty from Arizona State University joined the ensemble which attained part time status During the music directorship of Theo Alcantara from 1978 to 1988 the orchestra achieved full time status in 1983 1 2 During the music directorship of James Sedares from 1989 to 1995 the orchestra recorded commercially for KOCH International Classics 3 Hermann Michael was principal guest conductor and artistic adviser of the orchestra for two seasons and then its music director from 1997 to 2004 4 Michael Christie was music director of the orchestra from 2005 to 2013 In 2011 Jim Ward became president and chief executive officer of the orchestra and negotiated financial restructuring to address fiscal deficits and financial challenges 5 6 With Christie the orchestra recorded commercially for Naxos Records Christie was subsequently music director laureate of the orchestra from 2013 to 2016 7 In February 2014 the orchestra named Tito Munoz as its 11th music director 8 after two guest conducting appearances by Munoz with the orchestra 9 In January 2020 the orchestra announced the appointment of Suzanne Wilson as its next president and chief executive officer effective 21 January 2020 in succession to Ward following his retirement from the post 10 In March 2020 in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic and resulting concert cancellations the orchestra furloughed its musicians for the remainder of the 2019 2020 season along with reductions in its administrative and artistic personnel and salary reductions for remaining staff 11 In August 2020 the orchestra announced the cancellation of its 2020 2021 concert season the first US orchestra to cancel its planned 2020 2021 season in its entirety again in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic 12 The Orchestra resumed performing for the 2021 22 season opening the season with a program of Romantic Era music featuring violin soloist Giora Schmidt on October 22 2021 References edit Michael Kiefer 1997 06 05 Is Anybody Listening Phoenix New Times Retrieved 2020 09 28 Chris Casacchia 2005 09 11 Symphony begins new chapter with much improved bottom line Phoenix Business Journal Retrieved 2020 09 28 Copland on CD A Top 10 National Public Radio NPR Music 2004 11 08 Retrieved 2020 09 28 Melinda Bargreen 2005 09 02 Conductor Hermann Michael 1937 2005 cherished by local musicians Seattle Times Retrieved 2020 09 28 Angela Gonzales 2014 02 21 Phoenix Symphony taps Tito Munoz to serve as music director Phoenix Business Journal Retrieved 2020 09 28 Brianna Bradley 2017 10 20 C Suite Phoenix Symphony CEO brings private sector management style to nonprofit world Phoenix Business Journal Retrieved 2020 09 28 Outgoing Christie named laureate of Phoenix Symphony East Valley Tribune 2013 02 21 Retrieved 2020 09 28 Internationally Acclaimed Conductor Tito Munoz Takes the Baton as Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony Press release Phoenix Symphony 21 February 2014 Retrieved 2020 09 28 Kerry Lengyel 2014 02 21 Phoenix symphony chooses new music director The Arizona Republic Retrieved 2020 09 28 Angela Gonzales 2014 02 21 Phoenix Symphony taps Tito Munoz to serve as music director Phoenix Business Journal Retrieved 2020 09 28 An important update about our 2019 20 Season and The Phoenix Symphony Press release Phoenix Symphony 27 March 2020 Retrieved 2020 09 28 2020 21 Subscriptions Press release Phoenix Symphony 17 August 2020 Retrieved 2020 09 28 Music directors editJohn Barnett 1947 1948 Robert Lawrence 1949 1951 Leslie Hodge 1952 1958 Guy Taylor 1959 1968 Philip Spurgeon 1969 1971 Eduardo Mata 1972 1978 Theo Alcantara 1978 1988 James Sedares 1989 1995 Hermann Michael 1997 2004 Michael Christie 2005 2013 Tito Munoz 2014 present External links editOfficial website of the Phoenix Symphony Stephen Lemons Michael Christie and the Ongoing Rumble in the Phoenix Symphony Phoenix New Times blog entry 23 March 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phoenix Symphony amp oldid 1174026601, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
