Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra is a non-union, fully professional orchestra
located in Dubuque, Iowa
. It serves the residents of Dubuque and its surrounding tri-state area
which includes 12 counties in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Under Music Director William Intriligator, over 75 professional musicians perform a repertoire of classical
, chamber
, opera
and pops concerts each year. The DSO performs an average of 12 different concerts a year with a total of 25 performances.
. The name was changed to the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra in 1974 to reflect the organization’s mission to serve the entire community.
More than 40 years ago, the orchestra presented five concerts yearly under the baton of founding Music Director and Conductor Dr. Parviz Mahmoud. Dr. Mahmoud had been conductor of the Tehran Symphony and head of the Iranian Administrators of Music and Iranian Radio Broadcasts. He earned his Master of Music degree in composition and a Ph. D in theory at the prestigious School of Music at Indiana University
. Under his directorship, the DSO grew in size and prestige through Dr. Mahmoud’s retirement in 1985.
In that year, Nicholas Palmer was selected as the DSO’s second Music Director and Conductor. Under Maestro Palmer’s direction, the orchestra continued to grow steadily in size, ticket sales and public support. The number of concerts performed increased from five in the 1985–1986 season to 27 in the 1991–1992 season. Maestro Palmer was named Conductor Emeritus of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra in 1999 in recognition of his service to the orchestra.
During the 1999–2000 season the DSO conducted a nationwide search to fill Maestro Palmer’s position. The Board of Directors together with the patrons of the DSO, overwhelmingly chose William Intriligator to be the third Music Director and Conductor of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. Under Maestro Intriligator’s leadership the DSO has experienced tremendous growth and success—attracting new audiences and musicians, adding opera productions to the season, launching a chamber series, doubling the number of education concerts and forging new partnerships in the community.
Around the same time, the DSO realized change was needed in its staff and Board. The staff added several new positions, Director of Marketing, Director of Development, and bookkeeper. For its top administrative executive, the Board sought and engaged new Executive Directors with experience and expertise.
In 1969 the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra organized the Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra (DYSO). The goal of the Youth Symphony was to assist in the development of young musicians who could eventually graduate to the DSO. The DYSO consists of 50 of the area’s best student musicians from as far away as Prairie du Chien, WI. In 1993 the program was expanded to include the Dubuque Youth String Ensemble (DYSE), a smaller training ensemble for less experienced string players.
The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Auxiliary was formed in 1966 to assist with the financial support of the symphony. The name was changed to the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra League (DSOL) in 1986. The League sponsors events throughout the year to raise funds for the DSO and to provide educational opportunities for tri-state area residents. Currently the League has over 120 members.
Dubuque Youth String Ensemble
The Dubuque Youth String Ensemble (DYSE) is an introductory honors ensemble for young string players. The ensemble focuses on developing string technique, ensemble skills, and gaining performance experience. Musicians participating in the DYSE will focus on chamber orchestra music as a tool to develop advanced string technique and ensemble skills. Musicians performing in the Dubuque Youth String Orchestra generally have 3–4 years of playing experience.
Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra
The Dubuque Youth Symphony (DYSO) was founded in 1968 as a feeder ensemble for the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. Today the ensemble exists as an honors youth orchestra for students living in the Dubuque area. Musicians in the Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra gain experience performing standard classical repertoire in a full orchestra setting.
, Madison, Milwaukee, Des Moines, Iowa City and the Quad Cities
. Orchestra musicians audition behind a screen so that their identity is unknown to the judges, and the only consideration in their appointment to the orchestra is their musical ability. Musicians have only about 3 weeks before the concert to study and rehearse the music, then rehearse together for just 10½ hours before each concert.
VIOLIN
VIOLA
CELLO
OTHER INSTRUMENTAL
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
located in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. It serves the residents of Dubuque and its surrounding tri-state area
Tri-state area
There are a number of areas in the 48 contiguous United States known as tri-state areas where three states either meet at one point or are in proximity to each other. The best known of the latter type is the New York metropolitan area...
which includes 12 counties in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Under Music Director William Intriligator, over 75 professional musicians perform a repertoire of classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, chamber
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and pops concerts each year. The DSO performs an average of 12 different concerts a year with a total of 25 performances.
History
Although its antecedents may be traced as far back as 1903, the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, as currently structured, was organized in 1958 as the “University Civic Symphony” under the auspices of the University of DubuqueUniversity of Dubuque
The University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian university located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,600 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of three four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, and is...
. The name was changed to the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra in 1974 to reflect the organization’s mission to serve the entire community.
More than 40 years ago, the orchestra presented five concerts yearly under the baton of founding Music Director and Conductor Dr. Parviz Mahmoud. Dr. Mahmoud had been conductor of the Tehran Symphony and head of the Iranian Administrators of Music and Iranian Radio Broadcasts. He earned his Master of Music degree in composition and a Ph. D in theory at the prestigious School of Music at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. Under his directorship, the DSO grew in size and prestige through Dr. Mahmoud’s retirement in 1985.
In that year, Nicholas Palmer was selected as the DSO’s second Music Director and Conductor. Under Maestro Palmer’s direction, the orchestra continued to grow steadily in size, ticket sales and public support. The number of concerts performed increased from five in the 1985–1986 season to 27 in the 1991–1992 season. Maestro Palmer was named Conductor Emeritus of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra in 1999 in recognition of his service to the orchestra.
During the 1999–2000 season the DSO conducted a nationwide search to fill Maestro Palmer’s position. The Board of Directors together with the patrons of the DSO, overwhelmingly chose William Intriligator to be the third Music Director and Conductor of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. Under Maestro Intriligator’s leadership the DSO has experienced tremendous growth and success—attracting new audiences and musicians, adding opera productions to the season, launching a chamber series, doubling the number of education concerts and forging new partnerships in the community.
Around the same time, the DSO realized change was needed in its staff and Board. The staff added several new positions, Director of Marketing, Director of Development, and bookkeeper. For its top administrative executive, the Board sought and engaged new Executive Directors with experience and expertise.
In 1969 the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra organized the Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra (DYSO). The goal of the Youth Symphony was to assist in the development of young musicians who could eventually graduate to the DSO. The DYSO consists of 50 of the area’s best student musicians from as far away as Prairie du Chien, WI. In 1993 the program was expanded to include the Dubuque Youth String Ensemble (DYSE), a smaller training ensemble for less experienced string players.
The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Auxiliary was formed in 1966 to assist with the financial support of the symphony. The name was changed to the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra League (DSOL) in 1986. The League sponsors events throughout the year to raise funds for the DSO and to provide educational opportunities for tri-state area residents. Currently the League has over 120 members.
Music Directors
- William Intriligator (2000–)
- Nicholas Palmer (1985–1999)
- Dr. Parviz Mahmoud (1957–1985)
Youth Ensembles
The DSO sponsors two different youth orchestra training programs for young instrumentalists, the [Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra] (DYSO) and the Dubuque Youth String Ensemble (DYSE). Students audition annually to become members.Dubuque Youth String Ensemble
The Dubuque Youth String Ensemble (DYSE) is an introductory honors ensemble for young string players. The ensemble focuses on developing string technique, ensemble skills, and gaining performance experience. Musicians participating in the DYSE will focus on chamber orchestra music as a tool to develop advanced string technique and ensemble skills. Musicians performing in the Dubuque Youth String Orchestra generally have 3–4 years of playing experience.
Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra
The Dubuque Youth Symphony (DYSO) was founded in 1968 as a feeder ensemble for the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. Today the ensemble exists as an honors youth orchestra for students living in the Dubuque area. Musicians in the Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra gain experience performing standard classical repertoire in a full orchestra setting.
About the Musicians
The DSO employs approximately 60 professional musicians on a yearly contract while the rest of the orchestra consists of substitute players. Roughly one-fifth of the contract musicians are local while the remainder travel from larger metropolitan areas like ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Madison, Milwaukee, Des Moines, Iowa City and the Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
. Orchestra musicians audition behind a screen so that their identity is unknown to the judges, and the only consideration in their appointment to the orchestra is their musical ability. Musicians have only about 3 weeks before the concert to study and rehearse the music, then rehearse together for just 10½ hours before each concert.
Notable Musicians Who Have Performed with the DSO
PIANO- Bruce BrubakerBruce BrubakerBruce Ellsworth Brubaker Jr was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in two Major League games, one for the Los Angeles Dodgers in and one for the Milwaukee Brewers in...
, piano 1993 - Robert TaubRobert TaubRobert Taub is an American concert pianist known for his performance of contemporary classical music. He has performed and recorded many of the works of Milton Babbitt, Mel Powell, and Vincent Persichetti....
, piano 2000 and 2002 - Chiu-Ling Lin, piano 1988, 1992
- Peter Vinograde, piano 1992, 1996, 1998
- Jeffrey Biegel, piano 1999
- Radoslav KvapilRadoslav KvapilRadoslav Kvapil is an internationally acclaimed Czech pianist and composer, considered by some to be the among the finest exponents of Czech piano music...
, piano 1997 - Seung-Un Ha, piano 1997
- Navah PerlmanNavah PerlmanNavah Perlman is a concert pianist. Her parents are violinists Toby and Itzhak Perlman.Perlman performed as a soloist with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony Orchestra in 1984, and made her professional debut at age 15 with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in 1986.Perlman graduated from Brown...
, piano 2002 - Ron Regev, piano 2004
- Antonio Pompa-BaldiAntonio Pompa-Baldi-Life:He graduated from the Umberto Giordano Conservatory of Foggia in 1993.After graduating, he moved to Napoli, where he studied with the Italian professor Annamaria Pennella.He also studied for about 18 months with the pianist Aldo Ciccolini....
, piano 2005 - Jon NakamatsuJon NakamatsuJon Yasuhiro Nakamatsu is a Japanese American classical pianist who still resides in San Jose but mostly performs away from home. He is the son of David Y. Nakamatsu and Karen F. Maeda Nakamatsu .In June 1997 Nakamatsu won the Gold Medal at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition...
, piano 2005 - Jung Lin, piano 2007
- Davide Cabassi, piano 2007
VIOLIN
- Sung-Ju Lee, violin 1977, 1982
- Lynn ChangLynn ChangLynn Chang is a Chinese American violinist known for his work as both a soloist and a chamber musician. Chang is a founding member of the Boston Chamber Music Society and is currently a faculty member at MIT, Boston University, the Boston Conservatory, and the New England Conservatory of...
, violin 1980 - Hiroko Yajima, violin 1979
- Benny KimBenny KimBenny Kim is an American violinist. His brother Eric Kim is a cellist.Kim's early teachers included Doris Preucil and Almita Vamos. He studied at the Juilliard School under Dorothy DeLay, and graduated in 1986 with Bachelor's and Master's degrees. In 1981, he was a prize-winner in the Saint...
, violin 1984 - Leopold La Fosse, violin 1973, 1976, 1993
- Yuri Namkung, violin 2001, 2004
- Rachel LeeRachel LeeRachel Lee is an American violinist.Regarded as one of the most promising upcoming talents on the international stage, Rachel has performed with major orchestras worldwide, including the Chicago, Seattle, Saint Louis, and National Symphonies, the Staatskapelle Berlin, the Seoul Philharmonic, and...
, violin 2002 - Robert McDuffieRobert McDuffieRobert McDuffie is an internationally renowned violinist. He has played as a soloist with many of the major orchestras around the world including those of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Minnesota, Houston, St...
, violin 1985 - Jennifer KohJennifer KohJennifer Koh is an American violinist, born to Korean parents in Glen Ellyn, IL.Jennifer Koh earned a B.A. in English Literature from Oberlin College, as well as a Performance Diploma from the attached Oberlin Conservatory. She is also a graduate of the Curtis Institute and was silver medalist in...
, violin 1993, 1995 - Judith IngolfssonJudith Ingolfsson-Biography:Already at the age of five, Ingolfsson appeared in a performance on Icelandic TV, and she made her solo orchestral debut in Germany at the age of eight....
, violin 2006 - Mark O'ConnorMark O'ConnorMark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
, violin and composer 1997, 2007
VIOLA
- Steven Tenenbom, viola 1991
- Toby Appel, viola 1982
CELLO
- Hai-Ye Ni, cello 1991
- Mark KosowerMark KosowerMark Kosower is an internationally renowned cellist. Kosower is currently Solo Cellist of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in Germany and was Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from 2005-07. He studied with János Starker at Indiana University and Joel...
, cello 1996 - Zuill BaileyZuill BaileyZuill Bailey , Alexandria, Virginia, is an American cellist. A Juilliard graduate, he has appeared with a number of major orchestras internationally, and has an exclusive international recording contract with the Telarc label...
, cello 2005
OTHER INSTRUMENTAL
- George ZukermanGeorge ZukermanGeorge Benedict Zukerman, is a Canadian bassoonist.In 1992, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1996, he was awarded the Order of British Columbia.He is the younger brother of musicologist Joseph Kerman -References:...
, bassoon, 1996 - Rex MartinRex MartinRex Martin was born in Burlington, Iowa. He was raised in Stronghurst, Illinois and graduated from high school in Chillicothe, Illinois. He married Margreth Trümpi of Ennenda, Switzerland in 1989....
, tuba 1998