Southeast Symphony
Encyclopedia
The Southeast Symphony Association is a non-profit, music
al and cultural association located in Inglewood, California
.
The association was founded in 1948 by music teacher Mabel Massengill Gunn. Gunn's goal was to create an orchestra
that welcomed African-American musicians, music teachers and patrons of the arts in an era during which the classical music
world was still predominantly segregated
. As of 2010, the association's orchestra remains the longest continuously performing primarily African-American orchestra in the world. Alumni of the association's orchestra have gone on to perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
, the Minnesota Orchestra
and the El Paso Opera Company.
The group currently offers musical classes to students of various ages through the Los Angeles Unified School District
. The association has a sponsorship relationship with the Nissan car company. The current Music Director and Conductor
of the symphony is Anthony R. Parnther
.
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al and cultural association located in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
.
The association was founded in 1948 by music teacher Mabel Massengill Gunn. Gunn's goal was to create an orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
that welcomed African-American musicians, music teachers and patrons of the arts in an era during which the classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
world was still predominantly segregated
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
. As of 2010, the association's orchestra remains the longest continuously performing primarily African-American orchestra in the world. Alumni of the association's orchestra have gone on to perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra is a symphony orchestra which is managed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and plays the vast majority of its performances at the Hollywood Bowl....
, the Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
and the El Paso Opera Company.
The group currently offers musical classes to students of various ages through the Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
. The association has a sponsorship relationship with the Nissan car company. The current Music Director and Conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
of the symphony is Anthony R. Parnther
Anthony R. Parnther
Anthony Parnther is an American conductor of West Indian and Samoan descent. He studied Music Performance at Northwestern University and Music Education at East Tennessee State University. He currently serves as conductor of the Southeast Symphony, the oldest primarily African-American orchestra in...
.