Sudbury Symphony Orchestra

Sudbury Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra
Founded	1953 (inc. 1975)
Location	Sudbury, Ontario
Principal conductor	Victor Sawa
Website	sudburysymphony.com

The Sudbury Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra which makes its home in the Canadian city of Sudbury, Ontario.

Incorporated in 1975, the orchestra is a not-for-profit registered charity which performs an annual six-concert series at the 1337-seat Sanctuary of Glad Tidings Church on Regent Street South in Sudbury.

The mission of the orchestra is to increase the awareness and appreciation of music in the Sudbury Region and surrounding area by providing the opportunity for the public to attend a stimulating program of concerts and by encouraging artistic excellence, commitment and education. Their vision is to promote a culture of creativity in the City of Greater Sudbury and to foster a community in which children and adults are exposed to the extraordinary personal benefits that come from participation in music and the arts.

History

Founded in the fall of 1953 by the late Emil First, the original Sudbury Symphony was born from a group of very interested adults and local music students. The first public performance was held on January 13, 1954. In 1957 and for the next eighteen years Eric Woodward served as the Symphonys conductor. During his tenure the orchestra evolved into the Sudbury Philharmonic Society as it combined orchestra and choir.

Following Woodwards departure in 1974, the orchestra and the choir became separate entities. The choir became The Bel Canto Chorus, and the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra emerged as the newly incorporated, not-for-profit orchestra that exists today. A new mandate and mission was adopted to reflect the Symphony's twofold commitment to music education and to public performance.

In 1975 Dr. Metro Kozak became the SSO's third conductor, a position he held until his retirement in 1997. In 1997 Maestro Dr. Victor Sawa, a professional conductor took over the podium and has held the position since. Victor, as he is affectionately known, enjoys interacting with the audience during the concerts as he provides keen insights and background to the pieces in that evenings program. This trademark interaction continues to be a very popular facet of each concert. Under Maestro Vic's baton, over half of the members of the Sudbury Symphony are volunteers from within the community, with artistic leadership also provided by a core group of professionals.

Conductors

• Emil First, 1953 - 1957
• Eric Woodward, 1957 - 1974
• Metro Kozak, 1975 - 1997
• Victor Sawa, 1997–present

Conservatory of Music

Founded in 2001, the Sudbury Symphony increased its operations to include the Sudbury Symphony Conservatory of Music. At its peak, the Sudbury Symphony Conservatory of Music employed five teachers, with students enrolled in lessons for string instruments, as well as a Junior Music Course, a Junior String Orchestra, Cello Ensemble and Student String Quartets.

Today, the Conservatory has four instructors, who teach violin, viola, and cello. Music theory, music history, and an introduction to music (ages 2+) are also available. The Conservatory remains as a respected and high-quality teaching institution, and students are sometimes asked to perform as members of the Sudbury Symphony during performances.