The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra (NSO} was founded in January. 1939. From that year to approximately 1985, the Norwalk Symphony was primarily a community orchestra composed of volunteer musicians from the greater Norwalk region. In 1956, the Norwalk Youth Symphony was formed, and younger musicians from surrounding communities were frequently invited to be part of the orchestra. All rehearsals and performances were held in what is currently the Norwalk Concert Hall, formerly the WPA-era high school auditorium, and support for the organization came from the family and friends of the orchestra members.
The first Music Director of the Norwalk Symphony, Edward Kreiner, conducted the premier concert on May 9, 1939. A year later, the celebrated Ouinto Maganini, a Pulitzer prize winning composer and principal flute for the New York Symphony, began his 26-year tenure as the Orchestra's Conductor and Music Director. Maestro Maganini had an enormous influence on the NSO and the community of Norwalk. He presented the Symphony's first youth concerts and premiered several new compositions, including his own, successfully developing audience interest in newer music. Programming was quite varied and at times adventurous, and the orchestra began playing larger works such as Mahler symphonies and other classic repertoire. Guest soloists with the orchestra were drawn both from the local scene, as were artists that were developing their careers including Yo Yo Ma, ltzhak Pearlman and Emanuel Ax.
Following Maestro Maganini's retirement in 1967, Dennis Russell Davis conducted the orchestra from 1969 to 1973, and was succeeded by Gilbert Levine from 1974 to 1980. During this period, the orchcslra's artistic vision and musicianship developed greatly. The Music Director from 1980 to 2000 was Jesse Levine, who expanded the musical aspirations of the NSO as well as demanded an increasingly rigorous standard of performance from its musicians. Pops concerts, local touring concerts and children's concerts were established, as well as the Quinto Maganini Award in Composition, a national competition for a world premier performed by the NSO during its regular season. This period also saw the profile of the musicians shift dramatically, to a fully paid professional orchestra.
At the opening concert of the 2002-2003 season, Diane Wittry made her debut as Music Director and Conductor of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. She is also in her eighth season as the Music Director and Conductor of the Allentown Symphony in Pennsylvania. Maestro Wittry brings to both positions an enthusiasm for music and a commitment to education and outreach in the community. Wittry's new ideas For collaborating with community groups have broadened and expanded the concert experience. With her new leadership, the Norwalk Symphony is growing artistically and is working to significantly expand its outreach.
Music Director/Conductor Jonathan Yates joined the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra at the beginning of the 2011/2012 season and has programmed concerts with collaborations from local choral groups and in May 2014 a semi-staged concert production of Bizet's opera Carmen to an almost sold-out house. Â Â
The 2014-2015 year celebrates the orchestra's 75th Anniversary, and we anticipate progressively larger audiences based on the amazing growth we have experienced over the last couple of seasons. Â www.norwalksymphony.org
