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Shreveport Symphony Orchestra

December 15, 2023

32°30′54″N 93°44′36″W / 32.514877°N 93.743233°W / 32.514877; -93.743233

Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (SSO)
Orchestra
Shreveport Symphony Orchestra
(2010; Robert E. Trudeau)
Founded1948
LocationShreveport, Louisiana
Principal conductorMichael Butterman
Websitewww.shreveportsymphony.com

The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is based in Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish and the largest city in north Louisiana. The SSO performs most of its concerts in the newly renovated RiverView Theater (formerly Shreveport Civic Theater).[1][2] Founded in 1948, the symphony remains the longest continually performing professional orchestra in Louisiana.

The SSO belongs to the Louisiana Association of Symphony Orchestras (LASO) which was formed in August, 2003. LASO consists of all seven professional orchestras in Louisiana. The mission of the LASO is to promote and facilitate the interchange of ideas, advocate for the support of orchestras in the State, and coordinate collaborative projects in music education and other areas of mutual interest.[3]

History edit

Early years to 2003 edit

 
RiverView Theater in RiverView Park

Since its founding in 1948, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra[4] (SSO) has become Louisiana’s oldest continually operating professional orchestra and one of the most respected regional orchestras in the United States. Presenting more than 200 concerts each season, over half of which are free educational events, the orchestra performs music of various genres, including classical and popular.

The SSO was formed by a handful of interested local citizens with founding Music Director, John Shenaut[5][6] and it experienced tremendous growth until his retirement in 1981. After three years under Principal Conductor Paul Strauss followed by Interim Music Director Marjorie Deutsch, the SSO selected Peter Leonard as its second Music Director and Conductor in 1984, who remained with the Shreveport Symphony until 1996. Dennis Simons was selected as the SSO’s third Music Director and served from 1996 until 2003.

Under the stewardship of Leonard, and then Simons, the orchestra continued to grow as a cohesive unit, in relative stability, despite the effect of the oil bust during the 1980s on Shreveport's economy. However, into the new millennium, the orchestra's solvency was in a precarious state, as the core musicians risked being placed in a "per service" status, instead of receiving an annual guaranteed wage.[7]

New conductor for Shreveport (2004 to Sept. 2008) edit

An international search for the orchestra’s fourth Music Director began in the summer of 2003 and culminated with five finalists conducting the SSO during the 2004–2005 season. In August 2005, Maestro Michael Butterman was appointed the fourth Music Director in the orchestra’s 58-year history. Prior to his appointment, Butterman divided his time between Florida, New Mexico and New York where he served as the Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of Opera Southwest, and Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2007, he was named Music Director of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra as well.[8] Kermit Poling, SSO Concertmaster for over 20 years, served as the Interim Music Director/Resident Conductor during the 3 year transition period.

During the 2005–2006 season the orchestra presented eight Master Series concerts featuring various locally and nationally known soloists, a series of five Spotlight concerts (three with a chamber ensemble and two with a chamber orchestra—highlighting SSO musicians), In-School "Informances" (concerts with commentary) in elementary schools throughout the region, dozens of free Random Acts of Music, a free Picnic Pops concert in the spring with the Ark-La-Tex Youth Symphony and the annual free People’s Concert, featuring local singers, narrators and gospel choirs. The year 2007–'08 was notable for being the SSO's 60th season, and the opening concert on September 15, 2007 was a memorable event, as the program shared a couple of selections with the first concert performed in November, 1948.[9][10]

Musicians' strike (Oct. 2008 to Nov. 2009) edit

In October 2008 a musicians' strike nearly terminated its operation. All performances of the orchestra musicians under the auspices of the SSO were cancelled for the 2008–'09 season, and for part of the season 2009–'10. Prior to this strike, the SSO had annually presented more than two hundred concerts, the majority of which were free educational events.

The strike of the Shreveport Symphony musicians began in October 2008. Negotiations had begun in mid-2007, and since that time the orchestra musicians were playing without a contract, in expectation of a new bargaining agreement by the beginning of the 2008–'09 season.[11] All performances of the orchestra musicians under the auspices of the SSO were cancelled for the 2008–'09 season, and for part of the season 2009–'10.

By March 2008, the symphony board's position had already spilled over to the SSO's own website, a tremendous gaffe for any organization.[12] One such submission in the form of a press release was entitled Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Invites Musicians and Community To Embrace Board's Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility.[13] Trying to promote one side of any labor dispute on the one page that is the face of the orchestra to the public is foolish and self-destructive, since it provides no reassurance to concertgoers that the organization stands a chance of surviving. The public should not be made to take sides in an issue that does not concern them. They are merely the audience, not the arbitrators. The audience may even turn against the management for such crude tactics, as was shown in the case of the Philadelphia Orchestra's dispute in 2004.[14]

An editorial from The Times [Shreveport] in late March, 2008 summarized the critical situation at that time with respect to the financial status of the SSO.[15]

The strike of orchestra musicians was necessitated by the refusal of the Board of Directors to compromise with the musicians' union on matters of salary and job security, issues not new to the symphony, as it had already weathered a nine-week strike during the 1996–'97 season, which culminated in a collective bargaining agreement on March 11, 1997.

The drastic budget cut that was narrowly averted in 2002 did finally come home to roost in 2008. The 2008–'09 season was officially canceled on January 30, 2009.[16]

  • Update~ Sept. 24, 2009
    Recently, there have been discussions between representatives of the symphony musicians and a new management team on behalf of the symphony, and naturally neither side wishes to comment while negotiations are pending. The "glimmer of hope" exists to bring these two sides together for an eventual agreement, as noted by an editorial comment in The Times of Shreveport, Opinion section, September 24, 2009.[17]
  • Update~ Nov. 27, 2009
    "After two years of contentious negotiations, The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra is back – for now."[18] This information was just released during the last week in The Times [Shreveport], suggesting "a permanent return of live orchestral music" to Shreveport and its citizens.[19] In his arts blog, Robert Trudeau reported that SSO board president Dick Bremer, Rick Rowell, the leader of the musicians group, and Community Fund chief Paula Hickman announced the interim agreement and a concert series consisting of three planned concerts.[20]

Renewed concert season (2010 to 2011) edit

Following the enthusiastic response from the community to a new series of concerts, a more permanent agreement was reached in July, 2010. Shortly thereafter, the orchestra announced the official concert schedule for the 2010–'11 season.

As the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra embarked on the new season starting January 30, 2010, this group of talented, classically trained musicians, along with their devoted management team, would have to encourage the participation of a broader subscriber base, including the younger population of the Shreveport-Bossier City metro area. Innovative marketing and fresh ideas could enhance the appeal of live music to an ever-widening audience. Even two of the original Big Five orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra[21][22] and the Cleveland Orchestra,[23] have recently been subjected to the vagaries of the economy and the competitive nature of the entertainment/cultural industry.

While technology allows subscribers of some orchestras the choice of watching online versions of live performances over the internet—as well as technically advanced DVD recordings—the viability of live symphonic music will depend on providing a unique experience. As an avid concert-goer will know, there are intangible benefits to "being there" in person, rather than listening to a recorded broadcast. The event of witnessing the musicians making beautiful sounds together is priceless, and will never be adequately reproduced by video or audio recordings. A well-supported Shreveport Symphony Orchestra would greatly enhance the cultural diversity of the Shreveport-Bossier City area. It would also provide a source of inspiration for local children and youths to explore the world of symphonic music, and its associated branches, such as movie soundtracks, musicals, and even accompaniment to today's pop and rock artists.

The much-anticipated first concert of the 2010 season[24] was a rousing success, judging from the attendance at the RiverView Theater yesterday evening.[25][26] This bodes well for the future of this arts organization, as long as the momentum is carried on to attract new audience members to upcoming SSO programs.[27] The final concert of the abbreviated season took place on May 15, 2010.[28][29] Instead of the traditional annual Picnic Pops concert, which was usually held outdoors on the riverfront, this year the SSO and the Ark-La-Tex Youth Symphony Orchestra (ALTYSO) joined together for a free indoor concert on May 30, 2010.[30] Michael Butterman explained it this way, "We're doing much the same thing, but this time indoors," he said. "We will open with the youth orchestra playing a couple of things on its own and then the symphony will play on its own and then they will play together." The program included works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Richard Wagner and Gustav Holst, as well as music from "Fiddler on the Roof," and "The King and I: A Symphonic Portrait."[31]

By the end of May 2010, a decision was to be made by the symphony board about the 2010–'11 season.[32] This decision was postponed, to allow the remaining issues to be discussed at a meeting between the orchestra musicians and the board, scheduled for Mon., July 12, 2010.[33][34][35] Later that week, an agreement was reached between the board and musicians, allowing for the symphony to continue operating for at least another two years.[36]

On May 14, 2011, the SSO completed another successful season with a spectacular program including works by Smetana, Brahms and Dvořák, with a world-renowned violinist, Rachel Barton Pine, featuring in the Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major.

During the concert season 2010–2011, the SSO was able to acquire at least 50 new subscribers. Brian Hebert, Shreveport Symphony board president, was pleased with the state of the orchestra after the foregoing season, and attributed the solid financial footing in part to the reorganization of the symphony and significant concessions made by the musicians.[37][38]

New executive director chosen (2011 to 2013) edit

Lois Robinson was named as the new executive director of the SSO, starting on August 22, 2011.[39] She had previously been general manager of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in New Orleans, especially helping to rebuild that orchestra after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. "I am so impressed by the energy and commitment I have seen to make the SSO the best it can possibly be, and am convinced that there will be many opportunities for the organization to serve the community better than ever," Robinson said in a news release. She was interviewed just before the first concert of the new season, and explained her plans to strengthen and expand the role of the orchestra in the community, while increasing the administrative capacity of the orchestra to support that expansion.[40] September 24, 2011, was the beginning of a new era for this orchestra, and the variety of the programming included a guest appearance by one of America's most accomplished cellists, Zuill Bailey, in Elgar's famous Cello Concerto in E minor.[41]

Robinson replaced the interim general manager, Leah Escude, who served the orchestra well in the 2010–2011 season. Escude helped to give the SSO a new face in the public eye, through clever use of the social media on the internet, such as Facebook and Twitter, and helped to recover the orchestra's prestige in the wake of a difficult strike in 2008.

Unified vision (2014 to present) edit

More recently, in June 2014, the SSO musicians and management reached a collective bargaining agreement, which ensured the continuing growth and prosperity of this orchestra. The SSO conductor, Michael Butterman, stated that the new agreement indicated a unified vision and a sense of common purpose shared by all members of the SSO organization.[42]

Orchestra members edit

Kermit Poling retired from his post as concertmaster of the SSO, after his 27th season with the SSO.[43] Poling has kept his post as Associate Conductor for the SSO, in addition to being the Music Director of both the South Arkansas Symphony and the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet.[44]

SSO musicians belong to the Shreveport Federation of Musicians, known as Local 116 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada.[45] In October, 2008, during the musicians' strike, the SSO orchestra members formed Orchestra Players United of Shreveport-Bossier (OPUS). With the OPUS Orchestra, they were able to continue performing for the duration of the strike, supported by CODA (Concert Organizers for Diversity in the Arts of Northwest Louisiana), a non-profit organization.[46]

Every major SSO concert has been broadcast on Red River Radio, the regional public radio network operating at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Kermit Poling hosts the program, Regional Symphony Broadcasts which reaches nearly 50,000 listeners each week. He also serves as General Manager and Classical Announcer/Producer of Red River Radio.

In 2014, Matt Albert[47] was appointed as the new concertmaster of the SSO. Mr. Albert had performed previously in a Chamber Music series in Shreveport, as well as in the guest concertmaster role with the SSO.[48] Albert left the SSO in 2016 for another opportunity.[49]

References edit

  1. ^ RiverView Theater renovations: more bathrooms for all and much more. Shreveport Times, 27 March 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  2. ^ Shreveport Symphony Orchestra's 2019-2020 season celebrates 'home'. Shreveport Times, 11 September 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  3. ^ Louisiana Association Of Symphony Orchestras. Tax-Exempt Organizations. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  4. ^ Official Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Website
  5. ^ Maestro John Shenaut
  6. ^ Shreveport Symphony Orchestra founder John Shenaut diesShreveport Symphony Orchestra - News Release, 3 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  7. ^ Shreveport On, San Jose Off (August, 2002) August 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Blomster, Wes (2006-02-08). "Boulder Phil baton goes to veteran". Daily Camera.
  9. ^ Trudeau on Shreveport, a Blue Hole of the arts and crafts- Aug. 31, 2007
  10. ^ Chuck Richardson (Instructor) of Texarkana College- Sept. 15, 2007. August 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Archived version for August 28, 2008, www.shreveportmusicians.org – from the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ Shreveport Symphony – A Tangled Web…
  13. ^
  14. ^ A Tangled Web Indeed. February 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Times editorial calls for board finance disclosures on the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra musicians' pay struggle
  16. ^ Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Management Cancels Season
  17. ^ Editorial: Saturday concert reminds us what we're missing. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2009
  18. ^ Shreveport symphony has interim agreement. Retrieved Dec. 1, 2009
  19. ^ A Great Thanksgiving Day Present for Shreveport Retrieved Mar. 18, 2010
  20. ^ Shreveport Symphony Orchestra board and musicians come together for 3 concerts in 2010. Robert Trudeau Arts Blog, Nov. 23, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
  21. ^ Sad Violins: Philadelphia Orchestra May File for Bankruptcy
  22. ^ Philadelphia Orchestra files for bankruptcy protection. CBC News, April 16, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  23. ^ Cleveland Orchestra And Striking Musicians Reach Deal. NPR, 19 January 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  24. ^ Symphony to perform Retrieved Mar. 18, 2010
  25. ^ Sold out: Riverview Theater at capacity of 1600 for the return of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra
  26. ^ Triumphant return of the Shreveport Symphony. Shreveport Times (archived), January 31, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  27. ^ The circus comes to the symphony Retrieved March 18, 2010
  28. ^ Alon Goldstein and Stanislav Ioudenitch perform with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  29. ^ A Keyboard Extravaganza. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  30. ^ Michael Butterman, Christopher Allen, the SSO and the Arklatex Youth Symphony in concert. Robert Trudeau's Blog, May 24, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  31. ^ Symphony, youth orchestra to play joint concert. The Times, May 25, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  32. ^ Editorial: Crossed fingers for Shreveport Symphony's future. Retrieved Aug 20, 2010.
  33. ^ Symphony board, musicians to meet Monday. The Times, July 7, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  34. ^ The Musicians of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  35. ^ Symphony musicians, board continue to meet. The Times, July 12, 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  36. ^ Shreveport Symphony gets hot in July. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  37. ^ "Strand, Shreveport Symphony optimistic about seasons (part 1)". The Times. 16 August 2011. p. 19.
  38. ^ "Strand, Shreveport Symphony optimistic about seasons (part 2)". The Times. 16 August 2011. p. 21.
  39. ^ Shreveport Symphony names new executive director. The Times (Shreveport), August 4, 2011. This article is no longer viewable online.
  40. ^ Shreveport Symphony Orchestra's new director off to running start. The Times (Shreveport), September 19, 2011. This article is no longer viewable online.
  41. ^ Shreveport Symphony Orchestra to kick off season. The Times (Shreveport), September 20, 2011. This article is no longer viewable online.
  42. ^ Symphony musicians, management agree on terms. Shreveport Times, 16 June 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  43. ^ 10:01 Spotlight: Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Season Finale. Red River Radio, 27 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  44. ^ Official Site of Kermit Poling
  45. ^ Shreveport Federation of Musicians. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  46. ^ CODA of NWLA presents the OPUS Orchestra in Concert
  47. ^ Matt Albert - Artistic Directors of 'Music in the Mountains'. Music in the Mountains - 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  48. ^ Matt Albert backstage. Robert and Talbot Trudeau, 26 January 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  49. ^ Matt Albert joins U-M as first chair of new department of chamber music. Retrieved 6 October 2016.

External links edit

  • Official website of the SSO: Shreveport Symphony Orchestra

Other related links edit

  • Ark-La-Tex Youth Symphony Orchestra (ALTYSO)
  • Centenary Suzuki School
  • A blogsite for all Shreveport musicians and supporters
  • Trudeau on Shreveport, a Blue Hole of the arts and crafts
  • Shreveport Blog: "covers news and reviews of arts, entertainment and civic issues that affect NW Louisiana."
  • Greg Sandow on the future of classical music

December 15, 2023
shreveport, symphony, orchestra, 514877, 743233, 514877, 743233, orchestra, 2010, robert, trudeau, founded1948locationshreveport, louisianaprincipal, conductormichael, buttermanwebsitewww, shreveportsymphony, comthe, based, shreveport, seat, caddo, parish, lar. 32 30 54 N 93 44 36 W 32 514877 N 93 743233 W 32 514877 93 743233 Shreveport Symphony Orchestra SSO OrchestraShreveport Symphony Orchestra 2010 Robert E Trudeau Founded1948LocationShreveport LouisianaPrincipal conductorMichael ButtermanWebsitewww wbr shreveportsymphony wbr comThe Shreveport Symphony Orchestra SSO is based in Shreveport the seat of Caddo Parish and the largest city in north Louisiana The SSO performs most of its concerts in the newly renovated RiverView Theater formerly Shreveport Civic Theater 1 2 Founded in 1948 the symphony remains the longest continually performing professional orchestra in Louisiana The SSO belongs to the Louisiana Association of Symphony Orchestras LASO which was formed in August 2003 LASO consists of all seven professional orchestras in Louisiana The mission of the LASO is to promote and facilitate the interchange of ideas advocate for the support of orchestras in the State and coordinate collaborative projects in music education and other areas of mutual interest 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early years to 2003 1 2 New conductor for Shreveport 2004 to Sept 2008 1 3 Musicians strike Oct 2008 to Nov 2009 1 4 Renewed concert season 2010 to 2011 1 5 New executive director chosen 2011 to 2013 1 6 Unified vision 2014 to present 2 Orchestra members 3 References 4 External links 5 Other related linksHistory editEarly years to 2003 edit nbsp RiverView Theater in RiverView ParkSince its founding in 1948 the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra 4 SSO has become Louisiana s oldest continually operating professional orchestra and one of the most respected regional orchestras in the United States Presenting more than 200 concerts each season over half of which are free educational events the orchestra performs music of various genres including classical and popular The SSO was formed by a handful of interested local citizens with founding Music Director John Shenaut 5 6 and it experienced tremendous growth until his retirement in 1981 After three years under Principal Conductor Paul Strauss followed by Interim Music Director Marjorie Deutsch the SSO selected Peter Leonard as its second Music Director and Conductor in 1984 who remained with the Shreveport Symphony until 1996 Dennis Simons was selected as the SSO s third Music Director and served from 1996 until 2003 Under the stewardship of Leonard and then Simons the orchestra continued to grow as a cohesive unit in relative stability despite the effect of the oil bust during the 1980s on Shreveport s economy However into the new millennium the orchestra s solvency was in a precarious state as the core musicians risked being placed in a per service status instead of receiving an annual guaranteed wage 7 New conductor for Shreveport 2004 to Sept 2008 edit An international search for the orchestra s fourth Music Director began in the summer of 2003 and culminated with five finalists conducting the SSO during the 2004 2005 season In August 2005 Maestro Michael Butterman was appointed the fourth Music Director in the orchestra s 58 year history Prior to his appointment Butterman divided his time between Florida New Mexico and New York where he served as the Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Music Director of Opera Southwest and Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra In 2007 he was named Music Director of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra as well 8 Kermit Poling SSO Concertmaster for over 20 years served as the Interim Music Director Resident Conductor during the 3 year transition period During the 2005 2006 season the orchestra presented eight Master Series concerts featuring various locally and nationally known soloists a series of five Spotlight concerts three with a chamber ensemble and two with a chamber orchestra highlighting SSO musicians In School Informances concerts with commentary in elementary schools throughout the region dozens of free Random Acts of Music a free Picnic Pops concert in the spring with the Ark La Tex Youth Symphony and the annual free People s Concert featuring local singers narrators and gospel choirs The year 2007 08 was notable for being the SSO s 60th season and the opening concert on September 15 2007 was a memorable event as the program shared a couple of selections with the first concert performed in November 1948 9 10 Musicians strike Oct 2008 to Nov 2009 edit In October 2008 a musicians strike nearly terminated its operation All performances of the orchestra musicians under the auspices of the SSO were cancelled for the 2008 09 season and for part of the season 2009 10 Prior to this strike the SSO had annually presented more than two hundred concerts the majority of which were free educational events The strike of the Shreveport Symphony musicians began in October 2008 Negotiations had begun in mid 2007 and since that time the orchestra musicians were playing without a contract in expectation of a new bargaining agreement by the beginning of the 2008 09 season 11 All performances of the orchestra musicians under the auspices of the SSO were cancelled for the 2008 09 season and for part of the season 2009 10 By March 2008 the symphony board s position had already spilled over to the SSO s own website a tremendous gaffe for any organization 12 One such submission in the form of a press release was entitled Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Invites Musicians and Community To Embrace Board s Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility 13 Trying to promote one side of any labor dispute on the one page that is the face of the orchestra to the public is foolish and self destructive since it provides no reassurance to concertgoers that the organization stands a chance of surviving The public should not be made to take sides in an issue that does not concern them They are merely the audience not the arbitrators The audience may even turn against the management for such crude tactics as was shown in the case of the Philadelphia Orchestra s dispute in 2004 14 An editorial from The Times Shreveport in late March 2008 summarized the critical situation at that time with respect to the financial status of the SSO 15 The strike of orchestra musicians was necessitated by the refusal of the Board of Directors to compromise with the musicians union on matters of salary and job security issues not new to the symphony as it had already weathered a nine week strike during the 1996 97 season which culminated in a collective bargaining agreement on March 11 1997 The drastic budget cut that was narrowly averted in 2002 did finally come home to roost in 2008 The 2008 09 season was officially canceled on January 30 2009 16 Update Sept 24 2009Recently there have been discussions between representatives of the symphony musicians and a new management team on behalf of the symphony and naturally neither side wishes to comment while negotiations are pending The glimmer of hope exists to bring these two sides together for an eventual agreement as noted by an editorial comment in The Times of Shreveport Opinion section September 24 2009 17 Update Nov 27 2009 After two years of contentious negotiations The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra is back for now 18 This information was just released during the last week in The Times Shreveport suggesting a permanent return of live orchestral music to Shreveport and its citizens 19 In his arts blog Robert Trudeau reported that SSO board president Dick Bremer Rick Rowell the leader of the musicians group and Community Fund chief Paula Hickman announced the interim agreement and a concert series consisting of three planned concerts 20 Renewed concert season 2010 to 2011 edit Following the enthusiastic response from the community to a new series of concerts a more permanent agreement was reached in July 2010 Shortly thereafter the orchestra announced the official concert schedule for the 2010 11 season As the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra embarked on the new season starting January 30 2010 this group of talented classically trained musicians along with their devoted management team would have to encourage the participation of a broader subscriber base including the younger population of the Shreveport Bossier City metro area Innovative marketing and fresh ideas could enhance the appeal of live music to an ever widening audience Even two of the original Big Five orchestras the Philadelphia Orchestra 21 22 and the Cleveland Orchestra 23 have recently been subjected to the vagaries of the economy and the competitive nature of the entertainment cultural industry While technology allows subscribers of some orchestras the choice of watching online versions of live performances over the internet as well as technically advanced DVD recordings the viability of live symphonic music will depend on providing a unique experience As an avid concert goer will know there are intangible benefits to being there in person rather than listening to a recorded broadcast The event of witnessing the musicians making beautiful sounds together is priceless and will never be adequately reproduced by video or audio recordings A well supported Shreveport Symphony Orchestra would greatly enhance the cultural diversity of the Shreveport Bossier City area It would also provide a source of inspiration for local children and youths to explore the world of symphonic music and its associated branches such as movie soundtracks musicals and even accompaniment to today s pop and rock artists The much anticipated first concert of the 2010 season 24 was a rousing success judging from the attendance at the RiverView Theater yesterday evening 25 26 This bodes well for the future of this arts organization as long as the momentum is carried on to attract new audience members to upcoming SSO programs 27 The final concert of the abbreviated season took place on May 15 2010 28 29 Instead of the traditional annual Picnic Pops concert which was usually held outdoors on the riverfront this year the SSO and the Ark La Tex Youth Symphony Orchestra ALTYSO joined together for a free indoor concert on May 30 2010 30 Michael Butterman explained it this way We re doing much the same thing but this time indoors he said We will open with the youth orchestra playing a couple of things on its own and then the symphony will play on its own and then they will play together The program included works by Ralph Vaughan Williams Richard Wagner and Gustav Holst as well as music from Fiddler on the Roof and The King and I A Symphonic Portrait 31 By the end of May 2010 a decision was to be made by the symphony board about the 2010 11 season 32 This decision was postponed to allow the remaining issues to be discussed at a meeting between the orchestra musicians and the board scheduled for Mon July 12 2010 33 34 35 Later that week an agreement was reached between the board and musicians allowing for the symphony to continue operating for at least another two years 36 On May 14 2011 the SSO completed another successful season with a spectacular program including works by Smetana Brahms and Dvorak with a world renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine featuring in the Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major During the concert season 2010 2011 the SSO was able to acquire at least 50 new subscribers Brian Hebert Shreveport Symphony board president was pleased with the state of the orchestra after the foregoing season and attributed the solid financial footing in part to the reorganization of the symphony and significant concessions made by the musicians 37 38 New executive director chosen 2011 to 2013 edit Lois Robinson was named as the new executive director of the SSO starting on August 22 2011 39 She had previously been general manager of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in New Orleans especially helping to rebuild that orchestra after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina I am so impressed by the energy and commitment I have seen to make the SSO the best it can possibly be and am convinced that there will be many opportunities for the organization to serve the community better than ever Robinson said in a news release She was interviewed just before the first concert of the new season and explained her plans to strengthen and expand the role of the orchestra in the community while increasing the administrative capacity of the orchestra to support that expansion 40 September 24 2011 was the beginning of a new era for this orchestra and the variety of the programming included a guest appearance by one of America s most accomplished cellists Zuill Bailey in Elgar s famous Cello Concerto in E minor 41 Robinson replaced the interim general manager Leah Escude who served the orchestra well in the 2010 2011 season Escude helped to give the SSO a new face in the public eye through clever use of the social media on the internet such as Facebook and Twitter and helped to recover the orchestra s prestige in the wake of a difficult strike in 2008 Unified vision 2014 to present edit More recently in June 2014 the SSO musicians and management reached a collective bargaining agreement which ensured the continuing growth and prosperity of this orchestra The SSO conductor Michael Butterman stated that the new agreement indicated a unified vision and a sense of common purpose shared by all members of the SSO organization 42 Orchestra members editKermit Poling retired from his post as concertmaster of the SSO after his 27th season with the SSO 43 Poling has kept his post as Associate Conductor for the SSO in addition to being the Music Director of both the South Arkansas Symphony and the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet 44 SSO musicians belong to the Shreveport Federation of Musicians known as Local 116 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada 45 In October 2008 during the musicians strike the SSO orchestra members formed Orchestra Players United of Shreveport Bossier OPUS With the OPUS Orchestra they were able to continue performing for the duration of the strike supported by CODA Concert Organizers for Diversity in the Arts of Northwest Louisiana a non profit organization 46 Every major SSO concert has been broadcast on Red River Radio the regional public radio network operating at Louisiana State University in Shreveport Kermit Poling hosts the program Regional Symphony Broadcasts which reaches nearly 50 000 listeners each week He also serves as General Manager and Classical Announcer Producer of Red River Radio In 2014 Matt Albert 47 was appointed as the new concertmaster of the SSO Mr Albert had performed previously in a Chamber Music series in Shreveport as well as in the guest concertmaster role with the SSO 48 Albert left the SSO in 2016 for another opportunity 49 References edit RiverView Theater renovations more bathrooms for all and much more Shreveport Times 27 March 2018 Retrieved 2 May 2019 Shreveport Symphony Orchestra s 2019 2020 season celebrates home Shreveport Times 11 September 2019 Retrieved 29 October 2019 Louisiana Association Of Symphony Orchestras Tax Exempt Organizations Retrieved 8 July 2014 Official Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Website Maestro John Shenaut Shreveport Symphony Orchestra founder John Shenaut diesShreveport Symphony Orchestra News Release 3 December 2011 Retrieved 19 December 2011 Shreveport On San Jose Off August 2002 Archived August 7 2008 at the Wayback Machine Blomster Wes 2006 02 08 Boulder Phil baton goes to veteran Daily Camera Trudeau on Shreveport a Blue Hole of the arts and crafts Aug 31 2007 Chuck Richardson Instructor of Texarkana College Sept 15 2007 Archived August 9 2011 at the Wayback Machine Musicians unanimously reject management s latest offer Archived version for August 28 2008 www shreveportmusicians org from the Wayback Machine Shreveport Symphony A Tangled Web List of SSO Press Releases from March 14 to April 10 2008 A Tangled Web Indeed Archived February 24 2012 at the Wayback Machine Times editorial calls for board finance disclosures on the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra musicians pay struggle Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Management Cancels Season Editorial Saturday concert reminds us what we re missing Retrieved Nov 5 2009 Shreveport symphony has interim agreement Retrieved Dec 1 2009 A Great Thanksgiving Day Present for Shreveport Retrieved Mar 18 2010 Shreveport Symphony Orchestra board and musicians come together for 3 concerts in 2010 Robert Trudeau Arts Blog Nov 23 2009 Retrieved May 31 2010 Sad Violins Philadelphia Orchestra May File for Bankruptcy Philadelphia Orchestra files for bankruptcy protection CBC News April 16 2011 Retrieved April 16 2011 Cleveland Orchestra And Striking Musicians Reach Deal NPR 19 January 2010 Retrieved 31 December 2016 Symphony to perform Retrieved Mar 18 2010 Sold out Riverview Theater at capacity of 1600 for the return of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Triumphant return of the Shreveport Symphony Shreveport Times archived January 31 2010 Retrieved May 17 2011 The circus comes to the symphony Retrieved March 18 2010 Alon Goldstein and Stanislav Ioudenitch perform with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Retrieved May 19 2010 A Keyboard Extravaganza Retrieved May 19 2010 Michael Butterman Christopher Allen the SSO and the Arklatex Youth Symphony in concert Robert Trudeau s Blog May 24 2010 Retrieved May 27 2010 Symphony youth orchestra to play joint concert The Times May 25 2010 Retrieved May 27 2010 Editorial Crossed fingers for Shreveport Symphony s future Retrieved Aug 20 2010 Symphony board musicians to meet Monday The Times July 7 2010 Retrieved August 13 2010 The Musicians of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Retrieved July 12 2010 Symphony musicians board continue to meet The Times July 12 2010 Retrieved 20 August 2010 Shreveport Symphony gets hot in July Retrieved 13 August 2010 Strand Shreveport Symphony optimistic about seasons part 1 The Times 16 August 2011 p 19 Strand Shreveport Symphony optimistic about seasons part 2 The Times 16 August 2011 p 21 Shreveport Symphony names new executive director The Times Shreveport August 4 2011 This article is no longer viewable online Shreveport Symphony Orchestra s new director off to running start The Times Shreveport September 19 2011 This article is no longer viewable online Shreveport Symphony Orchestra to kick off season The Times Shreveport September 20 2011 This article is no longer viewable online Symphony musicians management agree on terms Shreveport Times 16 June 2014 Retrieved 7 July 2014 10 01 Spotlight Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Season Finale Red River Radio 27 April 2012 Retrieved 27 April 2012 Official Site of Kermit Poling Shreveport Federation of Musicians Retrieved 7 July 2014 CODA of NWLA presents the OPUS Orchestra in Concert Matt Albert Artistic Directors of Music in the Mountains Music in the Mountains 2014 Retrieved 7 July 2014 Matt Albert backstage Robert and Talbot Trudeau 26 January 2013 Retrieved 7 July 2014 Matt Albert joins U M as first chair of new department of chamber music Retrieved 6 October 2016 External links editOfficial website of the SSO Shreveport Symphony OrchestraOther related links editArk La Tex Youth Symphony Orchestra ALTYSO Centenary Suzuki School A blogsite for all Shreveport musicians and supporters Trudeau on Shreveport a Blue Hole of the arts and crafts Shreveport Blog covers news and reviews of arts entertainment and civic issues that affect NW Louisiana Greg Sandow on the future of classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shreveport Symphony Orchestra amp oldid 1132769956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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