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Charlotte Symphony Orchestra

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Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Belk Theater, home of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Founded1932
Concert hallBelk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Principal conductorKwamé Ryan
Websitewww.charlottesymphony.org

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The orchestra’s principal home is the 1,970-seat Belk Theater of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The official chorus of the orchestra is the Charlotte Master Chorale. The orchestra also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Carolina and Charlotte Ballet. The Symphony Park amphitheater at SouthPark is home to the orchestra’s Summer Pops concerts.[1]

History

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The Spanish conductor and composer Guillermo S. de Roxlo founded the orchestra in 1932, with an initial ensemble of 15 musicians.[2] The orchestra gave its first concert on 20 March 1932 at the Carolina Theatre, with a total ensemble of 57 musicians.

Richard Cormier was the first full-time music director of the orchestra, from 1963 to 1967. The orchestra's longest-serving music director was Leo Driehuys, from 1977 to 1993. From 2001 to 2010, Christof Perick was music director, and the orchestra released its first compact disc during Perick's tenure, in 2007, with music of Beethoven, Schubert, Mahler, and Mozart. In July 2009, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra launched a bridge fund campaign at its “Celebrate America” concert in Charlotte’s Symphony Park, with a goal of raising $5.6 million to cover projected budget gaps over a six-year period. This fund is separate from the Symphony’s annual operating budget of $7.6 million. As of February 2010, the CSO had raised $4.3 million toward the bridge fund goal.[3][4] Following the close of his tenure, Perick had the title of conductor laureate for the 2010–2011 season.[5]

The orchestra's most recent music director was Christopher Warren-Green, who held the post from 2010[6][7] to 2022. Upon the close of his tenure as music director, Warren-Green took the title of conductor laureate and artistic advisor.

In January 2023, Kwamé Ryan first guest-conducted the orchestra. Ryan returned for an additional guest-conducting engagement in November 2023. In December 2023, the orchestra announced the appointment of Ryan as its next music director, effective with the 2024-2025 season, with an initial contract of 4 years.[8]

Music directors

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  • Guillermo de Roxlo (1932–1944)
  • Guy Hutchins (1945–1948)
  • Lamar Stringfield (1948–1949)
  • James Christian Pfohl (1949–1957)
  • Henry Janiec (1958–1963)
  • Richard Cormier (1963–1967)
  • Jacques Brourman (1967–1976)
  • Leo Driehuys (1977–1993)
  • Peter McCoppin (1993–2000)
  • Christof Perick (2001–2010)
  • Christopher Warren-Green (2010–2022)
  • Kwamé Ryan (2024–present)

References

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  1. ^ "Community Events". Charlotte Symphony. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "Letters: Good Publicity". Time. November 7, 1932. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  3. ^ "Blumenthal Foundation Awards $100,000 to Charlotte Symphony" (Press release). Charlotte Symphony. February 8, 2010. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
  4. ^ Garloch, Karen (December 23, 2009). "Charlotte Symphony hits goal". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved April 15, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Christof Perick Bids Farewell To Charlotte Symphony Orchestra". The Charlotte Observer. April 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  6. ^ "Charlotte Symphony Announces Music Director Designate Christopher Warren-Green to become orchestra's eleventh Music Director" (Press release). Charlotte Symphony. May 26, 2009. Archived from the original on May 29, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  7. ^ Charlotte Smith (May 28, 2009). "Warren-Green appointed Charlotte Symphony director". Gramophone. Retrieved June 13, 2009. [dead link]
  8. ^ "Announcing Kwamé Ryan as the Charlotte Symphony's Next Music Director" (Press release). Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
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