Wollongong Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Wollongong Symphony Orchestra (WSO) was formed in 2004 as a collaboration between conductor Carlos Alvarado and Wollongong Conservatorium of Music
. The orchestra gives regular concerts at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) in Wollongong, New South Wales. The orchestra was separated from the Wollongong Conservatorium in 2007 and an independent not-for-profit company, the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra Foundation Limited, was set up to administer it. In 2008, WIN Television
became the major sponsor and its name was changed to the WIN Wollongong Symphony Orchestra or WWSO. However, It is still natural for audience members to refer to the orchestra simply as the WSO or Wollongong Symphony Orchestra.
Having won a full scholarship from the Colombian Institute of Credit to study in Russia , Carlos obtained his Doctorate of Opera and Symphonic Conducting at the Tchaikovsky Conservatorium of Music of Moscow where he studied under Gennady Rozhdestvensky. He also undertook higher studies in choral conducting, piano theory and voice technique, and was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree in choir conducting from the same Conservatorium.
In 1990-92, he was invited by Professor Hellmuth Rilling and the International Bach Academy of Stuttgart to take part as an Active Conductor in various courses and festivals with the Bach Collegium Orchestra and the Gachinnger Kantoire Choir in Stuttgart (Germany), Moscow and Santiago de Compostela (Spain).
He subsequently toured as conductor in Russia, Spain, Italy, Brazil and Colombia and made recordings for National Radio and TV. He conducted the Colombian Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphonic Band and the Symphonic Orchestra del Valle. Carlos has been Professor of Symphonic and Choir Conducting at many Universities and Conservatoria in Colombia.
Carlos moved to Australia in 2003 where he is the Principal Conductor of the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra. Carlos continues to promote and support other musical groups, choirs and orchestras. He has been musical director of the Manly Warringah Choir since 2003 .
played Graham Koehne's Trumpet Concerto with the orchestra. He commented on WIN television that the Orchestra was 'getting the right mood'.
Wollongong Conservatorium of Music
Wollongong Conservatorium of Music is a centre for music education and performance serving the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the English Tudor style Gleniffer Brae Manor House and grounds, part of the Wollongong Botanic Gardens in the suburb of Keiraville. Andrew...
. The orchestra gives regular concerts at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) in Wollongong, New South Wales. The orchestra was separated from the Wollongong Conservatorium in 2007 and an independent not-for-profit company, the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra Foundation Limited, was set up to administer it. In 2008, WIN Television
WIN Television
WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single Wollongong-only station, and has since expanded to 24 owned-and-operated stations with transmissions covering a...
became the major sponsor and its name was changed to the WIN Wollongong Symphony Orchestra or WWSO. However, It is still natural for audience members to refer to the orchestra simply as the WSO or Wollongong Symphony Orchestra.
Conductor
The current Principal Conductor of the orchestra and founding conductor is Carlos Alvarado.Having won a full scholarship from the Colombian Institute of Credit to study in Russia , Carlos obtained his Doctorate of Opera and Symphonic Conducting at the Tchaikovsky Conservatorium of Music of Moscow where he studied under Gennady Rozhdestvensky. He also undertook higher studies in choral conducting, piano theory and voice technique, and was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree in choir conducting from the same Conservatorium.
In 1990-92, he was invited by Professor Hellmuth Rilling and the International Bach Academy of Stuttgart to take part as an Active Conductor in various courses and festivals with the Bach Collegium Orchestra and the Gachinnger Kantoire Choir in Stuttgart (Germany), Moscow and Santiago de Compostela (Spain).
He subsequently toured as conductor in Russia, Spain, Italy, Brazil and Colombia and made recordings for National Radio and TV. He conducted the Colombian Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphonic Band and the Symphonic Orchestra del Valle. Carlos has been Professor of Symphonic and Choir Conducting at many Universities and Conservatoria in Colombia.
Carlos moved to Australia in 2003 where he is the Principal Conductor of the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra. Carlos continues to promote and support other musical groups, choirs and orchestras. He has been musical director of the Manly Warringah Choir since 2003 .
Inaugural concerts
The inaugural concerts of the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra were given at St. Mary Star of the Sea College in Wollongong on the 30 October and 31 October 2004. James MorrisonJames Morrison (musician)
James Morrison AM is an Australian jazz musician who plays numerous instruments, but is best known for his trumpet playing...
played Graham Koehne's Trumpet Concerto with the orchestra. He commented on WIN television that the Orchestra was 'getting the right mood'.