9,487
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
|name= Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
|image= PensacolaSymphonyLogo.png
|formation= [[1926]]|type= [[:Category:Performing arts organizations|Performing arts]]
|location=205 E. Zaragoza Street<br/>(The [[Tivoli High House]])
|leader_title= Music director
|leader_name= [[Peter Rubardt]]
|board= [[Thomas Bailey]], <small>''President''</small><br/>[[William Dollarhide]], <small>''Vice President''</small><br/>[[Rick Harper]], <small>''Treasurer''</small><br/>[[Robert de Varona]], <small>''Immediate Past President''</small><br/>Ava Abney<br/>Thomas Armstrong<br/>[[John Cavanaugh]]<br/>Rodger P. Doyle<br/>Martha Ann Hunter<br/>Tad Ihns<br/>Angela H. Jones<br/>Patricia P. Langhorne<br/>Ann G. Litvak<br/>Anne Patterson<br/>James M. Potter<br/>Douglas Rehm<br/>John Shaffer<br/>Susan Stumpf<br/>Robert W. Turner<br/>Milton Usry<br/>Roger Webb<br/>Timothy Wright<br/>|staff= [[Christina Littlejohn]], <small>''Executive Director''</small><br/>[[Bret Barrow]], <small>''Director of Education & Development Administration''</small><br/>[[Kat Davis]], <small>''Director of Public Relations & Foundation Officer''</small><br/>[[Crystal Lohman]], <small>''Director of Patron Services & Marketing Manager''</small><br/>[[Michelle Thomas]], <small>''Director of Finance''</small><br/>[[Dale Riegle]], <small>''Orchestra Personnel Manager''</small><br/>[[Allison Giltinan]], <small>''Music Librarian''</small><br/>Steve Speakman[[Martin Rogers]], <small>''Operations Manager''</small><br/>
|budget=$900,000
|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 [[Wikipdia:Felix Mendelssohn College of Music and Theatre|Leipzog 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 [[1977]], 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]].
===Past Board Presidents===
{{colbegin|2}}
*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]]
{{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| ]]
