The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is one of Northwest Florida's largest performing arts organizations and the premier symphonic group of the Pensacola area. The current conductor and musical director is Peter Rubardt.
| Pensacola Symphony Orchestra | |
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| Established | 1926 |
| Type | Performing arts |
| Location | 205 E. Zaragoza Street (The Tivoli High House) |
| Music director | Peter Rubardt |
| Executive director | Christina Littlejohn |
| Staff | Bret Barrow Crystal Lohman Michelle Thomas Dale Riegle Allison Giltinan Martin Rogers |
| Budget | $900,000 |
| Website | www.pensacolasymphony.com |
Contents
History
The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra dates back to 1926, when German-born John Borjes, who had studied at the Leipzig conservatory, established the Pensacola Philharmonic Orchestra. A smaller, more informal group was also founded around that time by Edwin Northrup.
The groups continued to perform through the Great Depression with financial assistance from Works Progress Administration's Federal Music Project. The groups' names changed many times over the years before settling on the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Grier Williams, who became music director in 1979, oversaw the most dramatic growth of the organization. The orchestra had been performing in the auditorium of Pensacola High School for many years, but the City of Pensacola's purchase and renovation of the Saenger Theatre allowed them to move to the more elegant venue in 1982. Williams served as music director and conductor until 1996, when the position was occupied by Peter Rubardt.
The PSO currently enjoys audiences of over 35,000 per year, with an additional 45,000 listeners via the orchestra's radio broadcasts on WUWF. With renovations at the Saenger Theatre, the PSO's 2007-08 season will be held at other venues, including performances of the "Masterworks" series at First Baptist Church.
Leadership
The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that is operated by a 23-member Board of Directors, the current president of which is Thomas Bailey. The organization also employs five full-time staff members, including an executive director position, currently held by Christina Littlejohn.
Board of Directors
- Thomas Bailey, President
- William Dollarhide, Vice President
- Rick Harper, Treasurer
- Robert de Varona, Immediate Past President
- Ava Abney
- Thomas Armstrong
- John Cavanaugh
- Rodger P. Doyle
- Martha Ann Hunter
- Tad Ihns
- Angela Jones
- Patricia Langhorne
- Ann G. Litvak
- Anne Patterson
- James M. Potter
- Douglas Rehm
- Susan Stumpf
- Robert W. Turner
- Milton Usry
- Roger Webb
- Timothy Wright
Past Board Presidents
- 1953-54 – Gene Trader
- 1954-58 – George Narber
- 1958-60 – Theo Baars, Jr.
- 1960-61 – James Lay
- 1961-62 – J. McCarthy Miller
- May-Dec 1962 – Paul Emerson
- Dec 1962-63 – Howard Rein
- 1963-64 – W. W. Miller, Jr.
- 1964-66 – Harry E. Newkirk
- 1966-67 – Marjorie Brown
- 1967-68 – W. W. Miller, Jr.
- 1968-69 – Philomena Marshall
- 1969-70 – Marjorie Brown
- 1970-71 – Earl Newton
- 1971-72 – Erica Wooley
- 1972-73 – Ed Lake
- 1973-74 – Allen Litvak
- 1974-75 – John Brayton
- 1975-76 – Frank Dobinson
- 1976-77 – Ken Lea
- 1977-78 – James Potter
- 1978-79 – Newton Allebach
- 1979-80 – Dean Axene
- 1980-81 – James Potter
- 1981-82 – Philip Payne
- 1982-83 – Sam Smith
- 1983-84 – Arden Anderson
- 1984-85 – J. H. O'Donnell, Jr.
- 1985-86 – Robert Emmanuel
- 1986-87 – Gail Torres
- 1987-88 – Edward Boywid
- 1988-89 – Muriel Shugart
- 1989-90 – Rand Spiwak
- 1990-91 – Suzanne Scoggins Riley
- 1991-92 – Richard A. Paddock
- 1992-93 – Philip Payne
- 1993-95 – Dona Usry
- 1995-96 – Joyce Porras
- 1996-97 – Anne Hart
- 1997-98 – Nelson Johnson
- 1998-99 – Robert A. Moore, Jr.
- 1999-00 – David Sjoberg
- 2000-01 – William Gureck
- 2001-02 – Gay M. Burrows
- 2002-03 – Suzanne Kahn
- 2003-04 – Ken Cole
- 2004-05 – Elizabeth L. Smith
- 2005-06 – Robert de Varona
Funding
The PSO commands an annual budget of over $900,000, with ticket sales covering about half of operating expenses. Other funding comes from grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donations and fundraisers.
Guild
The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Guild was established in 1973 to provide financial support to the Symphony. It currently has about 250 members, many of whom volunteer at the Symphony's performances or at the Tivoli High House headquarters. The Guild hosts a number of fundraisers every year, the largest being the Magnolias and White Linen luncheon.
Symphony Showhouse
The Symphony Showhouse is a biennial fundraiser in which interior decorators volunteer to renovate a Pensacola home. Each company decorates an individual room with its own theme. The finished house is then opened to tours, with ticket sales and sponsorships going to the PSO's budget.
External links
- www.pensacolasymphony.com - Official site
- www.pcolasymphonyshowhouse.com - Showhouse site