Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is a professional orchestra based in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan administered by the non-profit Saskatoon Symphony Society. The orchestra was founded in 1927 as an amateur orchestra, but today has 10 core members and up to 50 sessional musicians. Arthur Collingwood, who was Professor of Music at the University of Saskatchewan, presented the first SSO concert. The SSO received major funding from the Carnegie Institute
Carnegie Institute
Carnegie Institute can refer to:*Carnegie Institute, operator of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania*Carnegie Institution for Science , Washington, D.C....
in 1931. The Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
, the Saskatchewan Arts Board
Saskatchewan Arts Board
The Saskatchewan Arts Board is an arms-length funding agency that provides grants, programs and services to individuals and groups whose activities have an impact on the arts and the people of Saskatchewan...
, and the City of Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
have all provided sponsorship of the SSO through the years. In the spring, the symphony holds a Saskatoon Symphony Book & Music Sale to raise funds for the orchestra. The SSO itself offers students grants and hosted a national cello competition in 1990. Dwaine Nelson was responsible for the development of a full-time core of musicians, initially with a size of six, but later expanded to the present-day ten members. The position of artistic director/conductor was recently filled by Victor Sawa.
University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
Department of Music, University Chorus, Greystone Singers, Saskatoon Chamber Singers, Saskatoon Children's Choir, Regina Symphony Orchestra
Regina Symphony Orchestra
The Regina Symphony Orchestra was founded by Frank Laubach, in Regina, Saskatchewan, as the Regina Orchestral Society in 1908, giving its inaugural concert December 3 of that same year...
, Saskatoon Youth Orchestra
Saskatoon Youth Orchestra
The Saskatoon Youth Orchestra is a Canadian music program based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The program includes the Youth Orchestra, the Saskatoon Strings, and the Double Bass program. The groups meet every Saturday morning September through April...
, and the Amati Quartet have all produced concerts with the SSO. The Canadian Opera Company Ensemble, National Ballet, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet have all performed with accompaniment provided by the SSO. The SSO celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2006.
Music directors, concertmasters, and current artistic leadership
The conductors of the SSO, a position that includes artistic direction, have been:- Arthur Collingwood, (1931–1947)
- Professor J.R. Macrae (1947–1950)
- Victor Kviesis (1950–1956)
- Professor Murray AdaskinMurray Adaskin-External links:*...
(1957–1960) - Alexander Reisman (1960–1963)
- Professor David KaplanDavid L. KaplanDavid Leon Kaplan, is a Canadian professor, performer and conductor.Born in Chicago, Illinois, he received a Bachelor of Music from Roosevelt University in 1948, a Masters of Music from Oberlin College in 1950 and a Doctor of Music from Indiana University in 1978...
(1963–1969, 1970–1971) - Franz Zeidler (1969–1970)
- Dwaine Nelson (1971–1976)
- Ruben Gurevich (1976–82)
- David Gray (1982–1984)
- Professor Daniel Swift (1984–1991)
- Dennis Simons (1993–1997)
- Earl Stafford (1997–2002)
- Douglas Sanford (2002–2008)
- Earl Stafford (2008–2010)-Interim Artistic Director
- Victor Sawa (2010–present)
History
In 1903, William Preston, who was also involved with the Saskatoon Oratorio Society, began an amateur orchestra in Saskatoon. Fredrick William Musselwhite conducted the Saskatoon orchestra as early as 1905 with John Jackson as concertmaster. In 1913, John Jackson began a Saskatoon orchestra, followed by a temporary orchestra established in 1924 by Allan Clifton.Recordings
In 2005, the SSO, under the direction of Earl Stafford, recorded a program of music written by Neil Currie. The resulting album, entitled Passionscape, was nominated for Outstanding Classical Composition at the 2006 Western Canada Music Awards. The album includes pieces with solo artists Alain TrudelAlain Trudel
Alain Trudel is a Canadian musician, composer and conductor. He began his career playing the trombone, but has more recently turned to conducting....
and Allen Harrington. The SSO also records regularly for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
.
Performing venue
Currently performances are held at TCU PlaceTCU Place
TCU Place, formerly known as the Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium, is a convention and arts centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Situated in the Central Business District it is located next to Midtown Plaza....
. Historically, Bessborough Hotel’s ballroom, the Capitol Theatre, and Convocation Hall at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
have provided venues for the SSO performances.
Concert series
Symphony Chamber Players began in 1985. Great Music for Kids introduced children to ochestral music in 1984. 1993 saw the inauguration of Music for a Sunday Afternoon.Canadian Federation of Musicians
Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra is a member of Canadian Federation of MusiciansAmerican Federation of Musicians
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada is a labor union of professional musicians in the United States and Canada...
. Canadian Federation of Musicians purports to help musicians who may need assistance with any number of issues related to the recording and performing of their craft. Services range from immigration, media recordings, symphonic and theatrical matters, touring, freelance musicians and membership services, contract negotiations and administration and royalty streams. A controversial policy of CFM is "no spectators" during rehearsals. SSO musicians who may not agree with policy are, nevertheless, obliged to comply.
See also
- Canadian classical musicCanadian classical musicIn Canada, classical music includes a range of musical styles rooted in the traditions of Western or European classical music that European settlers brought to the country from the 17th century and onwards...
- Culture of SaskatchewanCulture of SaskatchewanCulture of Saskatchewan views the patterns of human activity in the central prairie province of Canada examing the way people live in the geography, climate, and social context of Saskatchewan. Cultural activities involve technology, science, as well as moral systems and the characteristic...
- Music of Canada's Prairie ProvincesMusic of Canada's Prairie ProvincesThe city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the musical centre of the Canadian Prairie Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, having produced artists like Neil Young, The Guess Who, Bachman–Turner Overdrive, Crash Test Dummies, Fresh City, and many others...
- List of symphony orchestras
- Music of SaskatchewanMusic of SaskatchewanSaskatchewan is one of the Prairie Provinces of Canada.-Regina:Regina was incorporated in 1883, and became the provincial capital in 1905. Early in its history, the city boasted numerous bands, including a brass band, Musical and Dramatic Society and a number of church choirs.Frank L...