Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
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The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony is a Canadian orchestra based in the twin cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario. Music Directors and Principal Conductors have included Raffi Armenian (1971-1993), Chosei Komatsu (1993-1999) and Martin Fischer-Dieskau (2001-2003). Its home venue is The Centre In The Square in Kitchener, Ontario. The hall is known for its outstanding acoustics.
The Canadian Chamber Ensemble (CCE) is comprised of the principal musicians of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and includes flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, two horns, two trumpets, trombone, tuba, percussion, two violins, viola, cello and bass. The ensemble has toured throughout Canada as well as the United States Europe, and South America. The CCE was founded by conductor Raffi Armenian and was the first major Canadian ensemble to perform in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin wall.
Nationally praised for its world-class performances, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (KWS) is the cultural centrepiece of the Waterloo Region and serves as a significant entertainment resource for the province of Ontario.
The orchestra is comprised of 52 professional musicians under full-time contract. KWS performs close to 90 performances during a 38-week season for a combined concert audience of over 90,000. The orchestra is regularly heard across Canada on CBC Radio Two. CBC Records has produced fourteen recordings of the KWS and the Canadian Chamber Ensemble (CCE) with acclaimed soloists. For example, the 2002 CCE release, Chants d’Auvergne, includes soprano Karin Gauvin. A KWS recording with duo pianists Anagnoson and Kinton was praised by Toronto's Globe and Mail for the "precision accompaniments" of the orchestra.
The KWS owes part of its incredible growth and national profile to the dedicated work of Raffi Armenian, KWS Music Director from 1971 to 1993. Maestro Armenian, who now holds the title of Music Director Laureate, was also instrumental in the building of the Symphony's home, The Centre in the Square (CITS). The Raffi Armenian Theatre, located within CITS, is known as one of Canada's finest acoustic performance spaces and provides an ideal venue for broadcast and recording.
As part of its commitment to education and musicianship, the KWS supports the activities of the KWS Youth Orchestra Program, which involves four distinct ensembles. Its musicians, ranging in age from 8 to 24, number over 100.
In order to remain a musical resource to its community, the KWS has specifically designed many education and community outreach activities to reach people of all ages and abilities.
The KWS has completed four tours, two in Ontario and two in Atlantic Canada.
In early October 2006, the symphony announced it would be forced to declare bankruptcy on October 31 unless it was able to raise another C$2.5 million to deal with an ongoing financial crisis, due to declining audiences and reduced funding. It launched a "Save our Symphony" campaign in order to raise the funds. [1] Having raised $2.3 million as of October 30, the symphony announced it would be able to continue operations. [2]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Facing the music, Lianne Elliott, The Record (Waterloo Region), October 5, 2006; website accessed October 5, 2006
- ^ Symphony survives, Lianne Elliott, The Record (Waterloo Region), October 31, 2006; website accessed October 31, 2006
