Black Hills Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Black Hills Symphony Orchestra (BHSO) is an American orchestra located in Rapid City, South Dakota
serving the Black Hills
region, and is a member of the League of American Orchestras
. The BHSO is administered by Black Hills Symphony Orchestra Society Inc., a non-profit organization, and utilizes approximately ninety musicians for typically five performances each season. The principal venue for the BHSO is the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Theater.
The BHSO has partnered with many other local performing organizations, including Dakota Choral Union, Black Hills Dance Theater, Black Hills Community Theater, Bells Of The Hills. The BHSO is currently conducted by Bruce Knowles; the concertmaster is Carol Knowles.
Alex Schneider, a local high school band and orchestra director, served as conductor from 1937 until 1942. Vernon Malone conducted in the 1940s. Violinist and businessman Arnold Rudd took over as conductor in 1952 and served until 1972 when Jack Knowles was named conductor. In 2009, after an open search process, Jack's son Bruce Knowles (who had assisted conducting since 2000) was named conductor. (Jack Knowles continues as Musical Director.)
In 1977, the Rapid City Symphony Orchestra Society was formed to oversee the orchestra. In 1988 the group took up its current name of "Black Hills Symphony Orchestra," recognizing the fact that its members and audience are drawn from the larger Black Hills area.
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
serving the Black Hills
Black Hills
The Black Hills are a small, isolated mountain range rising from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming, USA. Set off from the main body of the Rocky Mountains, the region is something of a geological anomaly—accurately described as an "island of...
region, and is a member of the League of American Orchestras
League of American Orchestras
The League of American Orchestras, known until Fall 2007 as the American Symphony Orchestra League , is an association of U.S. and Canadian orchestras. Over 950 orchestras are members, including youth, community, and professional orchestras....
. The BHSO is administered by Black Hills Symphony Orchestra Society Inc., a non-profit organization, and utilizes approximately ninety musicians for typically five performances each season. The principal venue for the BHSO is the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Theater.
The BHSO has partnered with many other local performing organizations, including Dakota Choral Union, Black Hills Dance Theater, Black Hills Community Theater, Bells Of The Hills. The BHSO is currently conducted by Bruce Knowles; the concertmaster is Carol Knowles.
History
The orchestra was founded in 1930s by a small group of string players as the Rapid City Symphony Orchestra.Alex Schneider, a local high school band and orchestra director, served as conductor from 1937 until 1942. Vernon Malone conducted in the 1940s. Violinist and businessman Arnold Rudd took over as conductor in 1952 and served until 1972 when Jack Knowles was named conductor. In 2009, after an open search process, Jack's son Bruce Knowles (who had assisted conducting since 2000) was named conductor. (Jack Knowles continues as Musical Director.)
In 1977, the Rapid City Symphony Orchestra Society was formed to oversee the orchestra. In 1988 the group took up its current name of "Black Hills Symphony Orchestra," recognizing the fact that its members and audience are drawn from the larger Black Hills area.