Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra is a professional orchestra
based in the Community Auditorium
in Thunder Bay
, Ontario
, Canada
. It was founded on 29 November 1960 as the Lakehead Symphony Orchestra, debuting at the Lakeview High School
auditorium. The current Music Director is Arthur Post.
Its first conductor was Rene Charrier, who was on his way to Calgary
with Doug Dahlgren when they wrecked their car and became stranded in Port Arthur. Saul Laskin
, then mayor of Port Arthur, was impressed by their talent and convinced them to stay.
When Port Arthur and Fort William amalgamated in 1970, the orchestra changed its name to the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Boris Brott was the Music Director and conductor from 1967–1972, Dwight Bennett from 1974 - 1989. The Thunder Bay Symphony Chorus was formed in 1974 to enable the performance of major choral works and the orchestra became one of the foremost community orchestras in Ontario.. Until 1985, the TBSO played in the Lakehead Exhibition Centre, local schools and churches. With the construction of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium in 1985, the orchestra found a new home.
Glen Mossop was Music Director from 1989–1994, Stephane Laforest from 1995-1999. During the 1995 season, the orchestra met with significant financial difficulties with the accumulated deficit rising to $140,000. By the summer of 1999, that deficit had increased to $450,000 due to a number of factors: a dispute over musician's pay led to a large retroactive tax bill and the orchestra lost its charitable lottery license. In July 1999 the TBSO laid off staff and went bankrupt.
With the appointment of Geoffrey Moull
as Music Director in 2000 the TBSO was able to proceed on more secure footing. In 2003 the Thunder Bay Regional Arts Council presented its Award to Education to Moull and the TBSO for innovative educational and outreach programs. By 2004 it offered 25 main concerts and the position of Conductor-in-Residence was added (Richard Lee 2003-2005, Jason Caslor 2005-2007, Stéphane Potvin 2008-2011). CBC Radio 2 recorded and annually broadcast the TBSO nationally starting in 2001. A self-produced CD recording conducted by Geoffrey Moull
titled Variations on a Memory of five contemporary compositions (works of John Estacio
, Jeffrey Ryan
, Regent Levasseur, Alexina Louie
and Aris Carastathis) became the best-selling album of the Canadian Music Centre in 2005, was nominated for a Juno Award and was awarded international distribution to radio broadcasters by the SOCAN Foundation. A second CD recording with blues artist Rita Chiarelli titled Uptown goes Downtown, produced in 2008 and conducted by Jason Caslor, was nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards
By 2007 the orchestra's budget had risen to $1.5 million and presented more than 50 concerts annually. The TBSO now employs 30 full-time musicians over a 24-week concert season and additionally hires up to 30 per-service musicians for many concerts. An administrative office staff of four full-time and four part-time people supports the musical activities of the organization. Five different subscription series are called Classical Plus, Masterworks, Cabaret, Pops, and Family. Important education and outreach programs were initiated. The TBSO tours every year throughout Northwestern Ontario
to bring concerts to communities that would otherwise not have access to a symphony orchestra. Regular tour stops include Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Marathon, Manitouwadge and Wawa.
Guest soloists of the TBSO have included Measha Brueggergosman, Anton Kuerti, James Ehnes, Janina Fialkowska, Angela Hewitt, Donna Brown, Marc-André Hamelin, Erika Raum, Tracy Dahl and André Laplante.
Geoffrey Moull
completed his tenure as Music Director of the TBSO in 2009. On the occasion of his last concert the Lakehead News wrote "Bravo Maestro Moull, you have left your mark and whoever should succeed you in this position will have a lot of work to fill your shoes". Candidates guest conducting to become Moull's successor in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons included Kirk Muspratt, Christopher Zimmerman, Gisèle Ben Dor, Alastair Willis, Scott Speck and Arthur Post. During the 2009-2010 season, Stephane Potvin assumed the role of Artistic Administrator.
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...
based in the Community Auditorium
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
The Thunder Bay Community Auditorium is a 1,511 seat performance arts centre, located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It opened on October 16, 1985 and is home to the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra...
in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was founded on 29 November 1960 as the Lakehead Symphony Orchestra, debuting at the Lakeview High School
St. Ignatius High School (Thunder Bay)
St. Ignatius High School is a Catholic high school located in the north end of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is part of the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, and its amenities include a chapel. It offers the Advanced Placement programme and in 2008 was rated the best high school in Thunder Bay...
auditorium. The current Music Director is Arthur Post.
Its first conductor was Rene Charrier, who was on his way to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
with Doug Dahlgren when they wrecked their car and became stranded in Port Arthur. Saul Laskin
Saul Laskin
Saul Laskin was a Canadian politician. He was the first mayor of the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario.Born in Fort William, Ontario, he was the younger brother of jurist Bora Laskin. He was educated in Fort William and Toronto, and served overseas in World War II...
, then mayor of Port Arthur, was impressed by their talent and convinced them to stay.
When Port Arthur and Fort William amalgamated in 1970, the orchestra changed its name to the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Boris Brott was the Music Director and conductor from 1967–1972, Dwight Bennett from 1974 - 1989. The Thunder Bay Symphony Chorus was formed in 1974 to enable the performance of major choral works and the orchestra became one of the foremost community orchestras in Ontario.. Until 1985, the TBSO played in the Lakehead Exhibition Centre, local schools and churches. With the construction of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium in 1985, the orchestra found a new home.
Glen Mossop was Music Director from 1989–1994, Stephane Laforest from 1995-1999. During the 1995 season, the orchestra met with significant financial difficulties with the accumulated deficit rising to $140,000. By the summer of 1999, that deficit had increased to $450,000 due to a number of factors: a dispute over musician's pay led to a large retroactive tax bill and the orchestra lost its charitable lottery license. In July 1999 the TBSO laid off staff and went bankrupt.
With the appointment of Geoffrey Moull
Geoffrey Moull
Geoffrey Moull is a professional conductor and pianist.- Education :Geoffrey Moull was born in London, Ontario, Canada and studied conducting with Kirill Kondrashin, Sergiu Celibidache and Martin Stephani...
as Music Director in 2000 the TBSO was able to proceed on more secure footing. In 2003 the Thunder Bay Regional Arts Council presented its Award to Education to Moull and the TBSO for innovative educational and outreach programs. By 2004 it offered 25 main concerts and the position of Conductor-in-Residence was added (Richard Lee 2003-2005, Jason Caslor 2005-2007, Stéphane Potvin 2008-2011). CBC Radio 2 recorded and annually broadcast the TBSO nationally starting in 2001. A self-produced CD recording conducted by Geoffrey Moull
Geoffrey Moull
Geoffrey Moull is a professional conductor and pianist.- Education :Geoffrey Moull was born in London, Ontario, Canada and studied conducting with Kirill Kondrashin, Sergiu Celibidache and Martin Stephani...
titled Variations on a Memory of five contemporary compositions (works of John Estacio
John Estacio
John Estacio is a contemporary Canadian composer.-Life and career:Estacio was born in Newmarket, Ontario. Raised in the farming community of the Holland Marsh, Ontario, Estacio took piano and accordion lessons, and played church organ every Sunday...
, Jeffrey Ryan
Jeffrey Ryan
Jeffrey Ryan is a Canadian composer. His compositional style ranges from opera, art song, and choral music to chamber ensemble and orchestral works. Ryan has been commissioned by the Cleveland Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony, Esprit Orchestra, Tapestry New Opera Works, the Arditti Quartet, and...
, Regent Levasseur, Alexina Louie
Alexina Louie
Alexina Louie, OC, FRSC is a Canadian composer of Chinese descent who has written many pieces for orchestra, as well as pieces for solo piano.-Biography:Alexina Louie was born in Vancouver and received an...
and Aris Carastathis) became the best-selling album of the Canadian Music Centre in 2005, was nominated for a Juno Award and was awarded international distribution to radio broadcasters by the SOCAN Foundation. A second CD recording with blues artist Rita Chiarelli titled Uptown goes Downtown, produced in 2008 and conducted by Jason Caslor, was nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards
By 2007 the orchestra's budget had risen to $1.5 million and presented more than 50 concerts annually. The TBSO now employs 30 full-time musicians over a 24-week concert season and additionally hires up to 30 per-service musicians for many concerts. An administrative office staff of four full-time and four part-time people supports the musical activities of the organization. Five different subscription series are called Classical Plus, Masterworks, Cabaret, Pops, and Family. Important education and outreach programs were initiated. The TBSO tours every year throughout Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. Its western boundary is the Canadian province of Manitoba, which disputed Ontario's claim to the...
to bring concerts to communities that would otherwise not have access to a symphony orchestra. Regular tour stops include Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Marathon, Manitouwadge and Wawa.
Guest soloists of the TBSO have included Measha Brueggergosman, Anton Kuerti, James Ehnes, Janina Fialkowska, Angela Hewitt, Donna Brown, Marc-André Hamelin, Erika Raum, Tracy Dahl and André Laplante.
Geoffrey Moull
Geoffrey Moull
Geoffrey Moull is a professional conductor and pianist.- Education :Geoffrey Moull was born in London, Ontario, Canada and studied conducting with Kirill Kondrashin, Sergiu Celibidache and Martin Stephani...
completed his tenure as Music Director of the TBSO in 2009. On the occasion of his last concert the Lakehead News wrote "Bravo Maestro Moull, you have left your mark and whoever should succeed you in this position will have a lot of work to fill your shoes". Candidates guest conducting to become Moull's successor in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons included Kirk Muspratt, Christopher Zimmerman, Gisèle Ben Dor, Alastair Willis, Scott Speck and Arthur Post. During the 2009-2010 season, Stephane Potvin assumed the role of Artistic Administrator.