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=[[Jessica Bennett]]<br/>[[Marshall Corzette]]<br/>[[Courtney Dell]]<br/>[[Allison Giltinan]]<br/>[[Jessica Hyche]]<br/>[[Dale Riegle]]<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 [[Jessica Lee]]. The organization also employs four full-time staff members, including an executive director position, currently held by [[Bret Barrow]].

===Board of Directors===
{{colbegin}}
*[[Jessica Lee]], ''President''
*[[Charles Beall]], ''Vice President''
*[[Paul Tobin]], ''Treasurer''
*[[Jack Zoesch]], ''Secretary''
*[[Mark Lee]], ''Immediate Past President''
*Diane Appleyard
*Thomas Bailey
*Barbara Bruckmann
*Margaret Couch
*Bradley "Beej" Davis, Jr.
*Nan DeStafney
*George Dmytrenko
*William Dollarhide
*Christina Doss
*Julie Estess
*Jean-Ellen Giblin
*John Gormley
*Tad Ihns
*Ron Jackson
*Teri Levin
*Xia Liu
*Lesley Lucas
*Jock Mobley
*Peter Mougey
*Willis Mullet
*Marte Picker
*Trey Poirier
*Leelaa Rao
*Stephanie Riegle
*Betty Roberts
*Kevin Ryan
*Robert Turner
{{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]]
*2014-16 - [[Mark Lee]]
*2016 - [[Bentina Terry]]
{{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]] was 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| ]]