Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

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The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra is Southern Alberta's most well regarded orchestra and it is based in Calgary. Often abbreviated to CPO, the majority of their performances are in the Jack Singer Concert Hall of the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts. It is also the orchestra for the Calgary Opera and Alberta Ballet Company.

The Orchestra has a relatively short history which began in 1910 with the founding of the First Calgary Symphony by violinist A.P. Howell. In 1947 the New Calgary Symphony was formed by Clayton Hare with members of the Mount Royal Orchestra and the previous Calgary Symphony.

In 1955 a Dutch conductor named Henry Plukker created the Alberta Philharmonic which in the same year merged with the Calgary Symphony. A new name, Calgary Phiharmonic Orchestra was chosen. Prelude, the orchestra's program magazine, began publication in October 1975 and continued in 1991. The Orchestra will sometimes feature a chorus of 100 members but not for all performances.

Beginning with the 1995-96 season Hans Graf was appointed music director and principal conductor of the CPO and his contract was recently extended to continue through the 2002-03 season. On average the CPO performs to over 100 000 people each season in Calgary.

In 2001 management of the orchestra initiated a lock_out and salaries of the players were cut by an average of 20%.

The group is conducted by conductor Roberto Minczuk, resident conductor Pierre Simard and chorus master Rosemary Thomson. Ivars Taurins is Principal Baroque Conductor and Mario Bernardi is the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate. Czech-born violinist Cenek J. Vrba is concertmaster.