The Windsor Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra located in Windsor, Ontario. The orchestra performs in Southwestern Ontario, at the Capitol Theatre, Home of the WSO.

History

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1941, originally as the Windsor Concert Orchestra. The name was changed to The Windsor Symphony in 1948. The orchestra’s first conductor was Matti Holli, who remained with the orchestra until his death in 1977. The most recent Canadian conductor to be appointed as music director was Dwight Bennett in 1986. Under Bennett, the orchestra became fully professional but also ran into financial difficulties through unrealized revenue projections and a musician's strike in 1988. He was succeeded by American conductor Susan Haig in 1991. Music director from 2001 to 2012 was American conductor John Morris Russell. During his tenure, the orchestra received a Juno nomination for their recording of Peter and the Wolf & Last Minute Lulu. The orchestra also earned several other awards, including two Ontario Lieutenant Governor's awards for the arts. He conducted his last concert as music director on May 12, 2012. On Feb 26, 2013, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Robert Franz as their sixth music director. Franz is the third American conductor to be appointed to the position. The Windsor Symphony Orchestra performs at several venues in the Windsor-Essex County area but, since the beginning of the 2012–2013 season, is based at the historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Windsor, a restored former movie house. Several concerts, mainly for smaller ensembles and the orchestra's Chorus, are performed annually at the University of Windsor's Assumption University Chapel.

Music directors

Concerts and programs

Main stage

Annually, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra stages 4 to 5 programmes with full orchestra in its "Masterworks" series and 4 to 5 Pops programmes, each performed at the historic Capitol Theatre in Windsor. The WSO also has 4 to 5 chamber orchestra programmes in its "Intimate Classics" series performed in Windsor, Leamington and Tecumseh, Ontario.

Chorus

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra Chorus was created in 1988 as a choral group directly affiliated with the orchestra. Previously, the orchestra would perform alongside the Windsor Classic Chorale and groups from Windsor and Leamington. The Chorus, which is volunteer and by audition, performs several concerts throughout the season at the Capitol Theatre as well as at UW Assumption University Chapel, covering classical as well as contemporary and pop music. The current chorusmaster is Bruce Kotowich.

Community outreach

Music For Health

The WSO Music for Health program provides live musical performances for residents and healthcare workers in long-term care facilities, retirement homes, hospitals, and other social service agencies in Windsor-Essex County. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the WSO worked with healthcare facilities to provide access to digital performances.

Neighborhood Concerts

The Windsor Symphony regularly performs in the community in local parks and neighborhoods. The WSO also works with community groups and organizations to perform at fundraisers and events.

Education initiatives

Education Concert Series

The Education Concert Series consists of three concert programmes designed kindergarten to grade three; grades four to six, and grades seven to twelve. The concerts are developed to be interactive and often feature young performers as soloists.

Family Concerts

The WSO's Family Concert series is an interactive and engaging introduction to music for young children ages 2–6 and their families. Music hosts guide children in exploration of classic melodies, orchestral families, traditional songs, art, story telling and magic.

Read-Aloud with the WSO!

Read-Aloud is a digital library of children's stories narrated by WSO Conductor Robert Franz, former Assistant Conductor Daniel Wiley, and various community guests. The short videos are designed for children aged 4-10.

Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra

Created in 2004, the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra (WSYO) gives Students between the age of 12-20 the opportunity to rehearse and perform orchestral music in an orchestral setting under professional direction. The WSYO performs 3-5 concerts annually including Side-by-Side performance with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

Awards and accolades

Discography

World premieres

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra has presented over 40 World Premieres since 2001. This includes 29 works commissioned by the WSO (made possible through a grant by Canada Council for the Arts).