Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra
The Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra is a vibrant regional orchestra based out of Bismarck, North Dakota. The orchestra employs local and regional musicians in performances of classical and modern symphonic music. Consisting of approximately 80 musicians, the Bismarck Mandan Symphony performs nine concerts per season, including a 3 concert pops series and 5 fully classical concerts. The BMSO has worked with some of the nation's top artists as guest musicians, such as Korliss Uecker, Aaron Meyer, and Martina Filjak. Hired as Music Director in 2008 after a national search, Dr. Beverly Everett is the orchestra's third conductor in its now 36-year history. The BMSO has reached a number of milestones in recent years. In 2011 the BMSO had its first large scale commissioning project, engaging acclaimed composer Chris Brubeck to write a symphonic work about Theodore Roosevelt's time in the Dakota Territories. The piece, "Roosevelt in Cowboy Land" was premiered in October 2011 with leading Roosevelt scholar Clay Jenkinson as narrator. In 2012 the BMSO received its first NEA Grant to bring Metropolitan Opera soprano Korliss Uecker to perform Mahler's Symphony No. 4. In 2010 the BMSO hired Dr. Everaldo Martinez as concertmaster and conductor of the Bismarck Mandan Symphony Youth Orchestras. In 2012 the BMSO launched a new concerts series "Rush Hour" concerts, featuring weekday hour-long chamber performances. The Bismarck-Mandan Symphony is the orchestra of Western North Dakota. Known for its strong commitment to collaborative projects, the orchestra has been involved in a number of large-Scale collaboration in recent years. In 2010 the BMSO and Bismarck-Mandan Civic Chorus, along with the Bel Canto Children's Chorus, presented Orff's Carmina Burana. The 2011 Roosevelt commission project was in partnership with the Roosevelt Center of Dickinson State University. And in September 2011 the BMSO presented a concert as part of the Bismarck State College/Dakota Institute Symposium on the 10th Anniversary of the attacks of Sep. 11, 2001. The BMSO has a strong commitment to education. There is a young artist competition held each year, as well as annual education concerts for all Bismarck area 4th graders. The BMSO also travels to present full orchestral and small ensemble outreach concerts throughout the region. The Bismarck-Mandan Symphony is committed to improving the cultural life of Western North Dakota through creative, exciting, and artistically thrilling concerts.