Red Deer Symphony Explained

Red Deer Symphony (RDSO) is a regional professional orchestra based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.^[1]

History

The RDSO was founded with financial assistance from the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, as a community ensemble.^[2] It developed over time into a professional orchestra presenting six main series concerts, three chamber music series concerts, and a variety of specials and children’s programs.^[3] Among the latter is Choir Kids, an annual program which gives the opportunity to twenty elementary school choirs to perform with members of the orchestra.^[4]

The Orchestra has been heard in broadcasts for the CBC; replaced the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, which was touring Europe at the time, as the Orchestra for the Alberta Ballet Company in 2000; and has frequently collaborated with Edmonton’s Pro Coro Canada.

The orchestra's chamber music concerts were found not to be financially sustainable, and were discontinued in 2012.^[5]

Since 1990, its Music Director has been Canadian conductor Claude Lapalme.^{[6] [7]}

In 2017 the orchestra took part in Canada 150 celebration concert with Steven Page.^[8] For the anniversary, the RDSO, along with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, had commissioned a short composition by Canadian composer Cheryl Cooney, entitled "Are we not drawn onward, we few, drawn onward to new era?".^[9]

The orchestra receives some of its funding through grants from the Red Deer Community Cultural Development Fund.^[10]

The RDSO appeared as a headlining act at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Book: David J. Goa. David Ridley. Aspenland, 1998: Local Knowledge and a Sense of Place. 1 January 1998. Central Alberta Regional Museums Network. 978-0-919405-13-4. 134.
2. Web site: Orchestras . . 2011-12-04.
3. https://albertaviews.ca/knowing-the-score/ "Knowing the Score"
4. https://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/red-deer-symphony-orchestra-surges-ahead-for-anniversary-year/ "Red Deer Symphony Orchestra surges ahead for anniversary year"
5. https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/local-entertainment/budget-issue-forces-rdso-to-cancel-chamber-series/ "Budget issue forces RDSO to cancel Chamber Series"
6. http://orchestrascanada.org/2012/11/07/an-adventure-for-the-red-deer-symphony/ "An Adventure for the Red Deer Symphony"
7. Web site: Musicians | Red Deer | Red Deer Symphony Orchestra.
8. http://medicinehatnews.com/entertainment/local-entertainment/2017/03/16/steven-page-is-forever-in-search-of-his-next-project/ "Steven Page is forever in search of his next project"
9. https://www.torontoconcertreviews.ca/april-1-2017---beethoven-violin-concert---tso-with-robert-trevino-and-karen-gomyo---roy-thomson-hall.html "Guest Conductor Robert Trevino and violinist Karen Gomyo sensational with the TSO!"
10. https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/rdsos-request-for-125000-of-annual-city-funding-was-denied-over-timing-not-merit/ "RDSO’s request for $125,000 of annual city funding was denied over timing, not merit"
11. Web site: CHANDOS Mainstage: Red Deer Symphony Orchestra 2019 Canada Games . www.canadagames.ca . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190222041905/https://www.canadagames.ca/2019/events/chandos-mainstage-red-deer-symphony-orchestra . 2019-02-22.