Brockton Symphony Orchestra

The Brockton Symphony Orchestra (BrSO) is a community orchestra based in Brockton, Massachusetts founded in 1948 as the Brockton Orchestral Society.[1] Described by the Boston Globe as "one of the region's classical jewels",[2] the orchestra performs five or six concerts each year, including its annual Holiday Pops Concert and Chamber Music Concert at local venues in Brockton including the West Middle School Auditorium and the Oliver Ames High School.[3] In the 1970s, the orchestra also produced original operas and ballets.[4] Contemporary works which have been commissioned and premiered by the orchestra include Gardner Read's Vernal Equinox (1955),[5] Beth Denisch's Golden Fanfare (1998),[1] and Thomas Oboe Lee's Sounds of The Islands (2005).[2]

Chairman of the Executive Board is Torben Hansen, and the orchestra's Concert Manager is Branden Quental. The BrSO's musical leadership comprises Musical Director James Orent, a frequent guest conductor and violinist for the Boston Pops and Boston Symphony Orchestra;[6][7] Assistant Conductor Emilian Badea, who holds a DMA from Boston University and has been a bassoonist with the orchestra since 1989;[2][8] and concertmistress Kristina Nilsson, co-founder of Boston's Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra.[9] Clarinetist and conductor Jonathan Cohler served as the orchestra's Musical Director from 1996 to 2006.[2]

Vasconcellos Youth Competition

The Brockton Symphony Orchestra also hosts the annual Vasconcellos Youth Competition, offering $1500 in prizes every year to instrumentalists under the age of 18. Winners are invited to play a concerto with the Brockton Symphony Orchestra.[10] Past Winners include Miki Nagahara, Winston Huang, Jaclyn Freshman, and Kristhyan Benitez.

References
  1. Pfeifer, Ellen (10 April 1998). "Handel rarity is a royal tragedy; Brockton Symphony celebrates 50 years". Boston Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2012 via HighBeam (subscription required).
  2. Massey, Joanna (11 December 2003)."Brockton Orchestra Enjoys Crescendo of Success". Boston Globe. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  3. McCready, Daniel (25 February 2012 ). "Orchestra to bring 'Life' to Brockton" Archived August 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. The Enterprise. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  4. Coleman, Sandy (11 March 1990). "Brockton Concert Master Strives for Success as Violin Soloist". Boston Globe. Retrieved 3 December 2012 via HighBeam (subscription required).
  5. Dodd, Mary Ann, and Jayson Rod Engquist (1996). Gardner Read: A Bio-Bibliography, p. 80. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313293848
  6. Boston Conservatory of Music. James Orent
  7. Knox, Robert (9 September 2007). "Brockton Symphony's pilot - New director plans both rare, popular works". Boston Globe. Retrieved 3 December 2012 via HighBeam (subscription required)
  8. bostonmusicians.org. Emilian Badea Archived 2012-11-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  9. Carlock, Marty (18 October 1998). "A life lived in harmony Kristina Nilsson: Concertmaster, lawyer, teacher". Boston Globe. Retrieved 3 December 2012 via HighBeam (subscription required).
  10. Budris, John (22 January 2006). "Symphony gives concerto winner an ovation; Vasconcellos Awards honor top youth"., Boston Globe. Retrieved 3 December 2012 via HighBeam (subscription required).
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