Omaha Symphony Orchestra

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The Omaha Symphony Orchestra is a community-based orchestra performing numerous concerts annually in Omaha, Nebraska and throughout the region. Originally established in 1921, the orchestra has continued yearly.

Contents

[edit] About

Founded in 1921, the Omaha Symphony performs nearly 60 concerts each year for more than 300,000 listeners. With a full-time core of 39 virtuosi, the full orchestra currently includes 92 musicians.

The regular season includes a seven-concert "Masterworks" series, six "Symphony Pops" performances, a three concert "Family Series", and a three concert "Casual Classics" series, all at the Holland Performing Arts Center. The orchestra also performs at dozens of outreach and school concerts through their Mission: Imagination!, Concerts for Youth, Music Alive!, and Celebrate Creativity programs, reaching more than 40,000 students and preschoolers, among others.[1]

The Symphony also performs a six-concert chamber orchestra series at the Strauss Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The symphony's current musical directors are Thomas Wilkins and Ernest Richardson (Resident Conductor since 1993).[2] In addition to performing in Omaha, the Symphony also performs in Lincoln at the Lied Center for Performing Arts annually.[3]

[edit] Membership

The members of the Omaha Symphony have ranged from seasoned community members to professional artists.[4] [5] In June 2007 the Omaha Symphony Musicians Organization announced a "no confidence" vote for the President and CEO of the Symphony Rob Hallam. Concerns cited include, "his failure to lead the organization effectively and efficiently despite spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on consulting fees since 2003."[6]

Musicians have also voiced concerns about the disparity in pay increases for Symphony management, particularly for Hallam, in relationship to their own pay. According to the Omaha World-Herald, "One of the biggest points of contention in the dispute is the gap between the musicians' base pay — $28,327 in 2005-06 — and Hallam's salary — $205,152 for the same period."[7]

[edit] Guild

The Omaha Symphony Guild has a mission to, "promote the growth and development of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra for the pleasure and education of residents of Greater Omaha and the States of Nebraska and Iowa." With a history extending since 1956, the Guild has had a hand in organizing a youth symphony, community outreach events and study circles on music, among other activities throughout the region. In 2006 and 2007 the Guild hosted a "Debutante Ball", a Valentine's Day Tea, and a Designer Derby and Home Tour.[8]

[edit] Leadership

The musical directors of the Omaha Symphony have been:

  1. Henry Cox (1921-1924)
  2. Sandor Harmati (1925-1929)
  3. Joseph Littau (1930-1932)
  4. Rudolph Ganz (1936-1941)
  5. Richard Duncan (1947-1958)
  6. Joseph Levine (1958-1970)
  7. Yuri Krasnapolsky (1970-1974)
  8. Thomas Briccetti (1975-1983)
  9. Bruce Hangen (1984-1994)
  10. Victor Yampolsky (1995-2005)
  11. Thomas Wilkins (2006-Present)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ (nd) "Omaha Symphony," Charity Navigator Rating. Retrieved 7/13/07.
  2. ^ (nd) History of the Omaha Symphony. Omaha Symphony. Retrieved 7/13/07.
  3. ^ (2007) "Omaha Symphony," University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Retrieved 7/13/07.
  4. ^ (nd) Musician Biographies. Omaha Symphony Musicians Organization. Retrieved 7/13/07.
  5. ^ (nd) Omaha Symphony Roster of Musicians. Omaha Symphony Musicians Organization. Retrieved 7/13/07.
  6. ^ (2007) "No Confidence Vote Announcement," Omaha Symphony Musicians Organization. 6/22/07. Retrieved 7/13/07.
  7. ^ Hassebroek, A. (2007) "Symphony pay gap flap off-key, chairman says," Omaha World-Herald, 6/23/07. Retrieved 7/13/07.
  8. ^ (nd) History. Omaha Symphony Guild. Retrieved 7/13/07.

[edit] External links