Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra
editPennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Symphony orchestra |
| Years active | 1970-present |
| Members | Music Director Allan Birney |
| Website | www.pasinfonia.org |
The Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Allentown, Pennsylvania
History
editThe Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra originated in 1970 as the Valley Camerata Orchestra, in association with Cedar Crest College, under the direction of its founder, music director and principal conductor, Allan Birney.
At its conception, the orchestra was a community-based performing group with 30 to 40 musicians, primarily local volunteers, who gathered together to play classical music literature for chamber orchestra. A memorable highlight of the orchestra's early years was the 1972 performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, the concert which was the premiere of the Camerata Singers, the notable choral group also founded and directed by Allan Birney.
The orchestra adhered to its original size and purpose, and in 1982, incorporated as the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra - an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) regional professional chamber orchestra.
National auditions, original and innovative programming and a competitive pay scale have attracted musicians of the highest caliber from the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and beyond, to form an ensemble which is acclaimed by critics as "technically the best in the Lehigh Valley."
Programming has steadily evolved from the original three-concert series to the present five-concert Subscription Series plus the popular four-concert summer Valley Vivaldi Series. In addition, the orchestra continues to perform as guest orchestra with The Camerata Singers, The Moravian College Choir, The Masterworks Chorale, Bethlehem's annual Messiah Sing-Along, as well as community festivals and celebrations including Musikfest and Mayfair.
The Sinfonia has been a leader in the promotion of exceptional artistic projects, as indicated by the versatile range of commissioned works and premieres it presents. It was the first area orchestra to make a digital recording on compact disc, featuring the notable keyboardist Anthony Newman.
The Sinfonia has featured guest conductors and soloists of international stature including Otto-Werner Mueller, conductor; Eugene Fodor, violinist; Sharon Isban, guitarist; and child prodigy Rachel Barton, violinist. The 1988-89 season saw the Sinfonia perform the area's premiere of the complete Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which it has repeated on several occasions.
Bringing classical music to the youth of the Lehigh Valley is central to the PSO's mission. An extensive educational outreach program provides music education and enrichment for thousands of area students each year. Programs to supplement and enhance public schools music curricula have included a National Concerto Competition for high school students, Young People's Concerts at Symphony Hall, interactive, in-school programs and our Be Our Guest music student program which invites students to attend orchestra concerts as our guests. To date, almost 43,000 students have participated in Sinfonia outreach programs.
The Sinfonia's Board of Directors and staff support and enhance the orchestra's enthusiasm, creativity and sense of community service. The maturity of the organization is attested by its growing audience and the outstanding caliber of musicians which the orchestra maintains as its members. Its strong growth and acceptance by the general public has confirmed the cultural need of the area for a chamber orchestra with this very high standard, versatility and community commitment.