What is the Niagara Symphony? Inspiring performances of great music, dedicated musicians – and loyal patrons! The Niagara Symphony’s 52 professional musicians present classical and contemporary orchestral music, enriching the lives of more than 6,000 citizens of the Niagara Region annually. Each season we present 12 concerts in two Series, MasterWorks and POPS!, and showcase outstanding guest artists who join the musicians of the orchestra to perform works that intrigue and entertain. Among the stellar soloists appearing at past orchestra concerts are Denise Djokic, Barbara Budd, Frank Leahy, Christopher Newton, Shauna Rolston and Julia Wedman. The Niagara Symphony is currently Orchestra in Residence at Brock University, performing in the 533-seat Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. The orchestra also recently performed in Welland, part of the Welland-Port Colborne Concert Association’s season, and regularly gives free concerts at Market Square, St. Catharines, part of the city’s Canada Day celebrations.
In 2010, following a rigorous two-year search, the Symphony was delighted to welcome our new Music Director and Principal Conductor, Bradley Thachuk. After completing a 9 -year term with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Maestro Thachuk relocated to St. Catharines to lead the orchestra into the next stage of its development. Equally at home with familiar classics and modern works, Thachuk plans to introduce Niagara audiences to many of his favourites in upcoming seasons. He eagerly anticipates performing in the nearly 1,000- seat Concert Hall of the new Performing Arts Centre. Our new home in a purpose-built, acoustically engineered concert hall will significantly enhance the Niagara Symphony’s ability to deliver an orchestral concert experience second to none.
Established in 1948, the Niagara Symphony has grown from a community orchestra to its current strength as a potent cultural force in Niagara. Since then, the Niagara Symphony has cultivated two musical progeny, the Niagara Youth Orchestra and Chorus Niagara. Both companies evolved to the point where their mandates differed enough from the Symphony’s to justify the creation of independent companies, which share the resources of the professional musicians within the community. Niagara Symphony partnerships with the Niagara Youth Orchestra, Chorus Niagara and the Chorus Niagara Children’s Choir continue to enrich the cultural life of our region.
A strong advocate for cultural development, the Niagara Symphony is also passionately committed to music education. We offer four acclaimed programmes to inspire and nurture a life-long enjoyment of orchestral music in Niagara’s future citizens: Composer in the Classroom, The Niagara Symphony Youth Club, The Academy, and Summer Music Camp. More than 2500 students have experienced the unique, hands-on inspiration of Composer in the Classroom, creating and developing their own compositions and seeing them performed at a school concert by a quartet of Niagara Symphony musicians. Since its inception in 1962, 11,000 children have participated in the Niagara Symphony’s highly-regarded Summer Music Camp. In July, 2011, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this remarkable opportunity for children to explore and make music.
Niagara Symphony
What is the Niagara Symphony? Inspiring performances of great music, dedicated musicians – and loyal patrons! The Niagara Symphony’s 52 professional musicians present classical and contemporary orchestral music, enriching the lives of more than 6,000 citizens of the Niagara Region annually. Each season we present 12 concerts in two Series, MasterWorks and POPS!, and showcase outstanding guest artists who join the musicians of the orchestra to perform works that intrigue and entertain. Among the stellar soloists appearing at past orchestra concerts are Denise Djokic, Barbara Budd, Frank Leahy, Christopher Newton, Shauna Rolston and Julia Wedman. The Niagara Symphony is currently Orchestra in Residence at Brock University, performing in the 533-seat Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. The orchestra also recently performed in Welland, part of the Welland-Port Colborne Concert Association’s season, and regularly gives free concerts at Market Square, St. Catharines, part of the city’s Canada Day celebrations.
In 2010, following a rigorous two-year search, the Symphony was delighted to welcome our new Music Director and Principal Conductor, Bradley Thachuk. After completing a 9 -year term with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Maestro Thachuk relocated to St. Catharines to lead the orchestra into the next stage of its development. Equally at home with familiar classics and modern works, Thachuk plans to introduce Niagara audiences to many of his favourites in upcoming seasons. He eagerly anticipates performing in the nearly 1,000- seat Concert Hall of the new Performing Arts Centre. Our new home in a purpose-built, acoustically engineered concert hall will significantly enhance the Niagara Symphony’s ability to deliver an orchestral concert experience second to none.
Established in 1948, the Niagara Symphony has grown from a community orchestra to its current strength as a potent cultural force in Niagara. Since then, the Niagara Symphony has cultivated two musical progeny, the Niagara Youth Orchestra and Chorus Niagara. Both companies evolved to the point where their mandates differed enough from the Symphony’s to justify the creation of independent companies, which share the resources of the professional musicians within the community. Niagara Symphony partnerships with the Niagara Youth Orchestra, Chorus Niagara and the Chorus Niagara Children’s Choir continue to enrich the cultural life of our region.
A strong advocate for cultural development, the Niagara Symphony is also passionately committed to music education. We offer four acclaimed programmes to inspire and nurture a life-long enjoyment of orchestral music in Niagara’s future citizens: Composer in the Classroom, The Niagara Symphony Youth Club, The Academy, and Summer Music Camp. More than 2500 students have experienced the unique, hands-on inspiration of Composer in the Classroom, creating and developing their own compositions and seeing them performed at a school concert by a quartet of Niagara Symphony musicians. Since its inception in 1962, 11,000 children have participated in the Niagara Symphony’s highly-regarded Summer Music Camp. In July, 2011, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this remarkable opportunity for children to explore and make music.
For detailed Niagara Symphony information, please visit our website: www.NiagaraSymphony.org