Editing Pensacola Symphony Orchestra

{{Infobox organization 
|name= Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
|image= PensacolaSymphonyLogo.png
|formation= [[1926]]
|type= Performing arts
|location=205 E. Zaragoza Street<br/>(The [[Tivoli High House]])
|leader_title= Music&nbsp;director
|leader_name= [[Peter Rubardt]]
|executive=[[Bret Barrow]]
|board=
|staff=[[John O'Connor]]<br/>[[Megan Burke]]<br/>[[Mary Slocum]]<br/>[[Jessica Hyche]]<br/>[[Dale Riegle]]<br/>[[Allison Giltinan]]<br/>[[Martin Rogers]]<br/>
|budget=$950,000
|website=[http://www.pensacolasymphony.com www.pensacolasymphony.com]
}}
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]].

==History==
The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra dates back to [[1926]], when German-born [[John Borjes]], who had studied at the [[Wikipedia:Felix Mendelssohn College of Music and Theatre|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 [[Wikipedia:Great Depression|Great Depression]] with financial assistance from [[Wikipedia:Works Progress Administration|Works Progress Administration]]'s [[Wikipedia:Federal Music Project|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 26,000 per year, with an additional 45,000 listeners via the orchestra's radio broadcasts on [[WUWF]]. With renovations at the [[Saenger Theatre]], from 2007 to 2009 the PSO held its concerts at other venues, including performances of the "Masterworks" series at [[First Baptist Church]]. On [[April 18]], [[2009]] the group returned to the Saenger.

==Leadership==
The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that is operated by a 35-member Board of Directors, the current president of which is [[Tad Ihns]]. The organization also employs four full-time staff members, including an executive director position, currently held by [[Bret Barrow]].

===Board of Directors===
{{colbegin}}
*[[Tad Ihns]], ''President''
*[[Roger Webb]], ''Vice President''
*[[Charlie Robinson]], ''Treasurer''
*[[Tom Bailey]], ''Secretary''
*[[Bill Dollarhide]], ''Immediate Past President''
*Charles Beall
*Margaret J. Couch 
*George Dmytrenko
*Bill Donahue 
*Rodger P. Doyle 
*Matt Fossa 
*Jean-Ellen Giblin
*Rick Harper
*Sherry Hartnett
*Keith Hill 
*Martha Ann Hunter
*Ron Jackson
*David Kessler
*Ros Leahy
*Jessica Lee
*Mark Lee
*Teri Levin 
*Anne M. Patterson 
*Brad Peterson 
*James M. Potter 
*Stephanie Riegle 
*Betty Roberts 
*Daniel Ross 
*Kevin Ryan 
*William Stafford Jr.
*Bentina C. Terry 
*Jonathan E. Thompson 
*Paul Tobin
*Robert W. Turner 
*Judy Wang
{{colend}}

===Past Board Presidents===
{{colbegin}}
*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 Woolley]]
*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]]
{{colend}}

==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===
{{main|Pensacola Symphony Orchestra 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==
*[http://www.pensacolasymphony.com www.pensacolasymphony.com] - Official site
*[http://www.pcolasymphonyshowhouse.com/ www.pcolasymphonyshowhouse.com] - Showhouse site

[[Category:Cultural organizations]]
[[Category:Pensacola Symphony Orchestra| ]]