Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian instrumental music ensemble based in Kelowna, British Columbia. From 2006 until December 2023 their principal conductor was Rosemary Thomson.[1][2][3] The orchestra performs both classical and contemporary orchestral works.[4] The orchestra plays throughout the Okanagan valley, in Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon.[5]
History
The orchestra was founded in 1960 by its first conductor, Willem Bertsch; in 1964 Douglas Talney became conductor, and then in 1965 Leonard Camplin took over and remained conductor for many years.[6]
In 1970 the Okanagan Symphony Choir was established directed at first by Jocelyn Pritchard, who was succeeded in 1978 by Imant Raminsh.[6]
In 1974 the orchestra received a Canada Council grant to hire a resident cellist.[7] In 1991 the principal violinist was Imant Raminsh.[8]
In 1981 OSO members organized Sinfonia, a chamber orchestra.[6] In 1988 a youth orchestra was organized by Raminsh.[9]
A performance of the OSO was hear nation-wide on a CBC Radio broadcast in 1989.[6]
The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra performed a series of concerts in 2017 with guest musician Sean Bray to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday.[10]
For many years the principal horn player for the orchestra was Edmond House; he retired in 2017.[11]
In April 2018 the orchestra performed in concert with singer/sosngwriter Sarah Slean.[12] A 2018 concert, "Prodigy", featured 12-year-old pianist and composer Kevin Chen performing early works by Mozart.[13]
In 2019, in the orchestra presented two Masterworks concerts titled "Themes and Innovations".[14] In December of that year, in anticipation of its 60th anniversary, the symphony, along with the OSO CHorus, presented Handel's Messiah, the first in a series of planned special performances.[15]
References
- ^ "'Brokenhearted': Former Okanagan Symphony music director will sue after surprise termination. Castanet, Dec 8, 2023
- ^ "Review: Okanagan Symphony dazzles with Verdi’s Requiem". Vernon Morning Star, Nov. 12, 2018, Concert review by Anita Perry
- ^ "Concert review: Yuletide Tales". Summerland Review, Dec. 25, 2018, by Anita Perry.
- ^ "Symphony concert a fusion of east and west". Keremeos REview, May. 13, 2019, by Anita Perry.
- ^ Warren R. Bland. Retire In Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across The Usa and Canada. Next Decade, Inc.; 2005. ISBN 978-1-932919-19-6. p. 307.
- ^ a b c d "Orchestras". The Canadian Encyclopedia, by Kevin James, Patricia Wardrop, Kenneth Winters. November 29, 2010
- ^ "44 music groups to get grants". Lethbridge Herald, via Newspaper Archives, October 30, 1974 - Page 6
- ^ "Raminsh taking it easy". Medicine Hat News, via Newspaper Archives. January 07, 1991 - Page 15
- ^ "Review and photos: Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra". Kelowna Capital News, Anita PerryNov. 28, 2016
- ^ " Staple on valley’s music scene". Kelowna Daily Courier, Anna Jacyszyn, Oct 20, 2018
- ^ "Influential musician passes the horn". Vernon Morning Star, May. 5, 2017
- ^ "Sarah Slean wins over Okanagan with OSO". Kelowna Capital News.Parker Crook, Apr. 10, 2018
- ^ "Concert Review: Okanagan Symphony rings in spring". Kelowna Capital News, Anita Perry, Mar. 11, 2018
- ^ "Perry: Okanagan Symphony presents innovative evening: review of the OSO Masterworks II series Themes and Innovations". Penticton News, Jordyn Thomson, Anita Perry. Nov. 26, 2019
- ^ "Perry: Okanagan Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Messiah energizing". Review by Anita Perry, BC Local News, Dec. 23, 2019