Tulsa Philharmonic
Encyclopedia
The Tulsa Philharmonic was an American symphony orchestra located in Tulsa, OK. The orchestra was founded in 1948 by H. Arthur Brown who was principal conductor from 1948 till 1958. The orchestra played for 53 seasons. The orchestra ceased to exist on September 12, 2002, citing "tenuous financial conditions and the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement with Local 94, American Federation of Musicians, the union representing the Philharmonic's musicians."
The financial problems of the orchestra were partially a result of the collapse of Enron
and Worldcom in 2001, as well as job cuts at Williams which took their toll on Tulsa, and made the Philharmonic unsustainable.
After the demise of the orchestra, several of its core musicians banded together to try to form a new professional orchestra in Tulsa. After several years and many hard battles the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra
was formed in 2005.
The financial problems of the orchestra were partially a result of the collapse of Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
and Worldcom in 2001, as well as job cuts at Williams which took their toll on Tulsa, and made the Philharmonic unsustainable.
After the demise of the orchestra, several of its core musicians banded together to try to form a new professional orchestra in Tulsa. After several years and many hard battles the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra
Tulsa Symphony Orchestra
The Tulsa Symphony Orchestra is a professional orchestra based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was formed in 2005 by musicians from the Tulsa Philharmonic, which ended in 2002, and currently performs with Light Opera Oklahoma....
was formed in 2005.