Walla Walla Symphony

The Walla Walla Symphony is an orchestra based in Walla Walla, Washington, USA. Founded in 1907, the Walla Walla Symphony is the "oldest continuously operating symphony west of the Mississippi".[1] The current Music Director and Conductor is Yaacov Bergman, who has held the position since 1987. The Walla Walla Symphony performs most of its concerts at Cordiner Hall located on Whitman College Campus and provides several different types of concerts throughout the year: Symphony Series, Guest Artist Soirée Series, Special Concerts, and Family/Youth Concerts.

Walla Walla Symphony (WWS)
Orchestra
Walla Walla Symphony April 2012
(Photo by Matthew Zimmerman Banderas)
Founded1907
LocationWalla Walla, Washington
Concert hallCordiner Hall, Whitman College
Principal conductorYaacov Bergman
Websitewwsymphony.org

History

The Walla Walla Symphony began with the formation of a "Symphony Club" in June 1907 by a small group who wanted to bring great music to their community. Following the adoption of a constitution and by-laws, the club's board of directors met for the first time on July 1. At a second meeting in September they voted to hire Edgar Fischer to direct an orchestra that would function as a separate entity from the music schools in the community.

The first performance of that 29-member group on December 12, 1907 was one of several activities during that season. The club held a series of meetings to study music, presented two more concerts, and sponsored a local performance by the nationally known New York Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Walter Damrosch. While that initial year was an exhilarating success, those that followed would be challenging as the orchestra's founders struggled with finances and often presented concerts to small audiences in less than ideal circumstances.

Walla Walla Symphony in 1925

Following the unexpected death of Edgar Fischer at age 49 in 1922, and after two years of interim leadership, Fischer's wife, Alice, a talented pianist and singer, assumed direction of the group. At a time when women conductors were rare, she proved to be an effective and inspiring leader and led the orchestra until it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1932.

Although the Symphony Club, renamed Symphony Society, continued without break as an organization through the Great Depression years, it suspended concerts during the season following the 25th because of financial conditions in the community. After it resumed concerts in 1934, four conductors led the group over the next eleven years, with Walter Wren and Frank Beezhold, both accomplished violinists, each serving 4 years.

The orchestra grew and flourished under Beezhold's leadership during the World War II years, because of the location of an Army air force base and military hospital in the community, and a Naval V-12 training program at Whitman College. As the war ended in 1945, Beezhold left to be concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

Since his departure there have been five conductors. William Bailey, a teacher at Whitman College, followed Beezhold and served for a record 24 years. Jose Rambaldi, his successor, also a Whitman College faculty member, led the orchestra until 1976. Following an interim search year with several conductors, R. Lee Friese became conductor in 1977. With his departure in 1986, Cindy Egolf Sham-Rao conducted during a search year that ended with the selection of Yaacov Bergman, present day conductor, who has conducted more concerts than any previous conductor.

Michael Wenberg, who joined the orchestra as a trombone player in 1998, was the orchestra's CEO from 2006 until his retirement in 2011.[2] He became CEO in 2007.[2]

Concert Series
  • Symphony Series concerts are performed at Cordiner Hall, Whitman College Campus and provide music to over 1,000 patrons per concert. These concerts are generally held on Tuesday evenings.
  • Guest Artist Soirée Series concerts feature the solo artists from the corresponding Symphonic concert. These concerts are performed the Saturday before the Symphony concert in a smaller, more intimate setting and include complimentary refreshments as well as the opportunity to meet/interact with the artist.
  • Special Concerts include full productions of ballets such as the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, performances in the Tri-Cities, WA, and summer concerts.
  • Family and Youth Concerts provide the youth of the Walla Walla Valley the opportunity to listen to live, symphonic music. The Walla Walla Symphony performs a Family "Foodraiser" concert followed by two free Kids' Concerts the next morning for 2,700 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. In 2013 the Symphony doubled Family programming to offer a spring family concert with the Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra side-by-side. The Family Concert is free admission with the donation of one can of food per person (proceeds go to the local food banks).

Youth Programs

The Walla Walla Symphony sponsors and supports several free youth music education programs that allow children of all ages and backgrounds to participate in music. These programs include:

Music Directors and Conductors
  • 1907-1922 Edgar Fischer
  • 1922-1923 Gottfried Herbst
  • 1923-1924 Karel Havlicek
  • 1924-1934 Alice Reynolds Fischer
  • 1934-1936 Victor Johnson
  • 1936-1940 Walter Wren
  • 1940-1941, 1942-45 Frank Beezhold
  • 1941-1942 Nelson O. Schreiber
  • 1945-1969 William H. Bailey
  • 1969-1976 Jose Rambaldi
  • 1977-1986 R. Lee Friese
  • 1986-1987 Cindy Egolf Sham-Rao
  • 1987–Present Yaacov Bergman

Principal Orchestra Musicians

A list of the principal Walla Walla Symphony players as of the 2018-2019 Season

  • Lisa Robertson, concertmaster
  • Maya Takemoto, assistant concertmaster
  • Ardeth Erikson, principal second violin
  • Craig Nelsen, assistant principal second violin
  • Lucia Orr, principal viola
  • Edward Dixon, principal cello
  • Benjamin Gish, assistant principal cello
  • Joshua Skinner, principal string bass
  • Leonard Garrison, principal flute/piccolo
  • Pablo Izquierdo, principal oboe
  • Carol Padgham-Albrecht, principal english horn
  • Shannon Scott, principal clarinet
  • Jennifer Crockett, principal bass clarinet
  • Mark Eubanks, co-principal bassoon
  • Ryan Hare, co-principal bassoon
  • Mark Eubanks, co-principal contra bassoon
  • Ryan Hare, co-principal contra bassoon
  • Dean Kravig, principal french horn
  • William Berry, principal trumpet
  • David Glenn, principal trombone
  • Torrey Lawrence, principal tuba
  • Barbara Lubbes, principal timpani
  • Mary Beth Norby, principal percussion
  • Jackie Wood, principal piano
  • Chelsea Spence-Crane, principal harp

Recent Guest Artists

Stephen Beus, Lucille Beer, Victor Benedetti, Alexander Bernstein, Evangelia Kingsley, Dean Kravig, Adam Lau, Ron Spivak, Sharin Apostolou, Haroutune Bedelian, Marie Birve, Rocky Blumhagen, Beth Madsen Bradford, Daniel Buchanan, Hamilton Cheifetz, Christopher Clayton, Matt Dolphin, Eugene Ballet, Mayumi Fujikawa, Thomas Hampson, Ross Hauck, Jenny Hayden, Molly Holleran, Janeanne Houston, Dick Hyman, Jeremy Irland, Matthew James, Janice Johnson, Jon Klein, David Krakauer, Jodie Langel, Torrey Lawrence, Michael Lewin, Waldemar Malicki, Richard Markson, Robert McPherson, Mid-Columbia Master Singers, Mid-Columbia Ballet, Tai Murray, Angela Niederloh, Sarah Parnicky, Camille Peterson, Dana Peterson, PROJECT Trio, Juliana Rambaldi, Debra Richter, Gerald Robbins, Wesley Rogers, Julia Gish Salerno, Kraig Scott, Peter Soave, Jeffrey Springer, Charles Robert Stephens, Mei-Ting Sun, Anthony Taylor, Brendan Tuohy, Walla Walla Choral Society, Richard Zeller, Jay Zhong, Karen Zizzi

World Premiere Compositions
  • 1981 Symphony No. 47, "Walla Walla, Land of Many Waters," Alan Hovhaness
  • 1989 The Legend of Chief Joseph, John Verral
  • 1993 Lyric Symphony, John Verral
  • 1994 Escapade, Marvin Schluger
  • 1995 An American Concerto, Gwyneth Walker
  • 1996 The Manhattan Jazz Suite, Marvin Schluger
  • 1997 Premiere Ouverture, Op. 23, Louise Farrenc (Modern World Premiere)
  • 1998 Jazz Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Marvin Schluger
  • 1998 Christmas Fantasy for Jazz Quintet and Orchestra, David Glenn
  • 2001 Symphony No. 2, John David Earnest
  • 2001 Overture to the Millenium, Marvin Schluger
  • 2001 Artist Portraits, David Glenn
  • 2001 Chant and Improvisation, Tom Simon
  • 2002 Piano Concerto, Tania Cronin
  • 2005 Svanen, Elfrida Andrée (Modern World Premiere)
  • 2006 Chasing the Light, William Berry
  • 2006 Variations on a Gregorian Chant for Jazz Trio and Orchestra, Tom Simon
  • 2007 Great River Percussion Concerto, Forrest Pierce
  • 2007 A Valley of Streams for Jazz Quintet and Orchestra, David Glenn
  • 2009 A Hamchilla Holiday, Parker Davis
  • 2010 Blessings From the Children, Gwyneth Walker
  • 2011 FanTAStic! A Celebration of 25 Fantastic Years, William Berry
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References
  1. Walla Walla Symphony website
  2. "Walla Walla Symphony leader to retire". McClatchy - Tribune. Tri-City Herald. 28 January 2011.
  • Shultz, D. (2006). "A Dream Fulfilled"
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