Phoenix Symphony

The Phoenix Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Phoenix, Arizona. The orchestra is based at Phoenix Symphony Hall, and is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the state of Arizona.

History

Founded in 1947, the orchestra began as an occasional group of amateur musicians performing four concerts each year, with John Barnett as its first music director, from 1947 to 1948. In subsequent years, music faculty from Arizona State University joined the ensemble, which attained part-time status. During the music directorship of Theo Alcantara, from 1978 to 1988, the orchestra achieved full-time status in 1983.[1][2]

During the music directorship of James Sedares, from 1989 to 1995, the orchestra recorded commercially for KOCH International Classics.[3] Hermann Michael was principal guest conductor and artistic adviser of the orchestra for two seasons, and then its music director from 1997 to 2004.[4]

Michael Christie was music director of the orchestra from 2005 to 2013. In 2011, Jim Ward became president and chief executive officer of the orchestra, and negotiated financial restructuring to address fiscal deficits and financial challenges.[5][6] With Christie, the orchestra recorded commercially for Naxos Records. Christie was subsequently music director laureate of the orchestra from 2013 to 2016.[7]

In February 2014, the orchestra named Tito Muñoz as its 11th music director,[8] after two guest-conducting appearances by Muñoz with the orchestra.[9]

In January 2020, the orchestra announced the appointment of Suzanne Wilson as its next president and chief executive officer, effective 21 January 2020, in succession to Ward following his retirement from the post.[10] In March 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting concert cancellations, the orchestra made its musicians redundant for the remainder of the 2019-2020 season, along with redundancies in its administrative and artistic personnel, and salary reductions for remaining staff.[11] In August 2020, the orchestra announced the cancellation of its 2020-2021 concert season, the first US orchestra to cancel its planned 2020-2021 season in its entirety, again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

References
  1. Michael Kiefer (1997-06-05). "Is Anybody Listening?". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  2. Chris Casacchia (2005-09-11). "Symphony begins new chapter with much-improved bottom line". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  3. "Copland on CD: A Top 10". National Public Radio / NPR Music. 2004-11-08. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  4. Melinda Bargreen (2005-09-02). "Conductor Hermann Michael, 1937-2005, cherished by local musicians". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  5. Angela Gonzales (2014-02-21). "Phoenix Symphony taps Tito Muñoz to serve as music director". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  6. Brianna Bradley (2017-10-20). "C-Suite: Phoenix Symphony CEO brings private sector management style to nonprofit world". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  7. "Outgoing Christie named 'laureate' of Phoenix Symphony". East Valley Tribune. 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  8. "Internationally Acclaimed Conductor Tito Muñoz Takes the Baton as Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  9. Kerry Lengyel (2014-02-21). "Phoenix symphony chooses new music director". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  10. Angela Gonzales (2014-02-21). "Phoenix Symphony taps Tito Muñoz to serve as music director". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  11. "An important update about our 2019/20 Season and The Phoenix Symphony" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  12. "2020/21 Subscriptions" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-28.

Music directors
  • John Barnett (1947-1948)
  • Robert Lawrence (1949-1951)
  • Leslie Hodge (1952-1958)
  • Guy Taylor (1959-1968)
  • Philip Spurgeon (1969-1971)
  • Eduardo Mata (1972-1978)
  • Theo Alcantara (1978-1988)
  • James Sedares (1989-1995)
  • Hermann Michael (1997-2004)
  • Michael Christie (2005-2013)
  • Tito Muñoz (2014-present)
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