Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra | |
Former Name: | Symphonie Saint-Charles |
Founded: | 1935 |
Location: | Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada |
Principal Conductor: | Stéphane Laforest |
Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra (OSS) (French: '''L'Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke'''), is a symphony orchestra based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, with Université de Sherbrooke as its home.
The orchestra's first performance took place on 3 April 1940. Founded by Horace Boux, Sylvio Lacharité and others in 1935 at the Séminaire de Sherbrooke, the orchestra was initially known as the Symphonie Saint-Charles. The first music director was Sylvio Lacharité, who retained that position until 1969.
On 13 February 1945 the orchestra gave its first concert at the Granada Theater.[1] In 1964 it signed a partnership with the Université de Sherbrooke to perform at the Maurice-O'Bready Theatre.
The orchestra usually performs in front of an audience of 1,300, of whom about 700 are members. Since mid-2000, it has given some free concerts in Sherbrooke's downtown and around the Eastern Townships. The orchestra's repertoire is not limited to classical music; it also plays some hommage or thematic representations. In 2007 the Beatles were honoured, and every year a Christmas show is held in December.