CITY OF PHOENIX: PHOENIX STAGES

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Downtown Phoenix skyline looking west at dusk


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Phoenix Symphony

Arizona's only full-time professional symphony orchestra and the state's largest performing arts group began 53 years ago as a part-time orchestra performing four concerts per season in the auditorium of Phoenix Union High School. Today, the 75-member orchestra has Symphony Hall to call home, and performs more than 160 concerts throughout the state from September through May.

Under the artistic leadership of Music Director Hermann Michael and the business leadership of President and CEO Maryellen Gleason, the Phoenix Symphony was commended by the National Endowment for the Arts for its high level of music making and successful repositioning within the Southwest.

National and international recognition such as this has helped attract many of the world's top musicians to appear with the Phoenix Symphony. Guest artists have included Emanuel Ax, Andre Watts, Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, Placido Domingo and Itzhak Perlman. In addition, many pops artists have graced the stage of Symphony Hall, including Marvin Hamlisch, Sandy Duncan, Bobby McFerrin, Andrea Marcovicci, Flash Cadillac, Mark O'Connor and our own Doc Severinsen, who has been the orchestra's principal conductor since the 1983-84 season.

photo of full Symphony

The Phoenix Symphony has experienced many transformations during the years. It became a full-time professional orchestra with "major" status during the 1981-82 season under the direction of then Music Director Theo Alcantara. James Sedares succeeded Maestro Alcantara and held the position of music director from 1989 to 1996. It was during Maestro Sedares' tenure that recordings of the Phoenix Symphony earned two "Best Recording of the Year" awards from the American music industry plus an ECHO Award, continental Europe's equivalent of the Grammy Award.

In addition to the Symphony's subscription series of classics, pops, chamber orchestra and family concerts, the orchestra participates in collaborative efforts with groups such as Ballet Arizona, the Phoenix Bach Choir, the Phoenix Boys Choir, and the Arizona State University Choral Union.

Other activities include educational programs--which reach more than 65,000 people annually--free pops concerts, concerts at local hospitals and outdoor concerts throughout the Valley.

To visit the Phoenix Symphony Web site, go to www.phoenixsymphony.org.

Last Modified on 09/24/2007 16:15:10