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About the orchestra
The story of
Symphony in the Valley
Special concerts
Featured soloists
Young musician soloists
A farewell to Conductor Wendy Larson
Meet the orchestra's new conductor, Carlos Elias |
The story of
Symphony in the Valley
In June 1990, Karin White of Glenwood Springs, Colo., and Chick Overington of Southhampton, Penn., met at the National Senior Symphony, performing that year at Mystic, Conn. Mr. Overington was planning to semi-retire and move to the West, and Ms. White suggested he consider the Roaring Fork Valley. She told him it wasa nice place to live, work, ski and perform with other musicians.
When Mr. Overington moved to Carbondale in the fall of 1991, he asked Ms. White why there was no community orchestra. Together, they decided it was time to establish an orchestra. Ms. White knew many local musicians, and Mr. Overington had served as a board member and violin player in the Warminster Symphony in Pennsylvania. Their collaboration resulted in the birth of Symphony in the Valley in 1993.
They founded the orchestra with three purposes in mind:
- To provide a performance group for local musicians
- To offer live classical music to local audiences
- To foster and encourage to study of music by young people
Mr. Overington and Ms. White recruited Jon Madsen and Randy Fox as the co-conductors, and placed announcements in community newspapers in the summer of 1993 seeking players. The first concert was performed on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1993, to a packed house in the Glenwood Springs High School Auditorium. The fledgling orchestra had 42 members and performed works by Grieg, Haydn, Corelli and Leroy Anderson.
The years have brought many changes and many accomplishments.
The concert season: In 1999, the orchestra added a third concert to its season, held in February. In 2004, the orchestra added a fourth concert in October.
From free concerts to admission: In 2000, the orchestra noted a "suggested donation" for those attending the concerts. In 2002, Symphony in the Valley began charging admission to concerts.
Concerto Competition: In 2004, conductor Wendy Larson and orchestra manager Marice Doll launched the Young Artists Concerto Competition. Musicians up to age 20 may enter the competition, which is held in January. They perform a selected piece, with a piano accompaniment if they wish, and the winners are chosen by independent judges. The top three young musicians are then invited to select a concert piece and perform it during the orchestra's Mother's Day Concerts in May.
© 2008 Symphony in the Valley
P.O. Box 1831, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602
www.sitv.org
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Symphony in the Valley