The Phoenix Symphony is an American

symphony orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, ...

based in

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

. The orchestra performs primarily at

Phoenix Symphony Hall Symphony Hall is a multi-purpose performing arts venue, located at 75 North 2nd Street between North 3rd Street and East Washington Street in Downtown Phoenix, downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Part of Phoenix Civic Plaza, the hall is bounded to the no ...

, and is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the state of Arizona.

History

Founded in 1947, the orchestra began as an occasional group of amateur musicians performing four concerts each year, with John Manley Barnett as its first music director, from 1947 to 1948. In subsequent years, music faculty from

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public university, public research university in Tempe, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 as Territorial Normal School by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, the university is o ...

joined the ensemble, which attained part-time status. During the music directorship of

Theo Alcántara Theo Alcántara is a Spanish-born conductor of both orchestra and opera, primarily in the United States, South America, and Spain. Notable permanent and guest conducting roles Maestro Alcántara has held the following permanent appointments: * De ...

, from 1978 to 1988, the orchestra achieved full-time status in 1983. During the music directorship of James Sedares, from 1989 to 1995, the orchestra recorded commercially for KOCH International Classics. Hermann Michael was principal guest conductor and artistic adviser of the orchestra for two seasons, and then its music director from 1997 to 2004. Michael Christie was music director of the orchestra from 2005 to 2013. In 2011, Jim Ward became president and chief executive officer of the orchestra, and negotiated financial restructuring to address fiscal deficits and financial challenges. With Christie, the orchestra recorded commercially for Naxos Records. Christie was subsequently music director laureate of the orchestra from 2013 to 2016. In February 2014, the orchestra named Tito Muñoz as its 11th music director, after two guest-conducting appearances by Muñoz with the orchestra. In January 2020, the orchestra announced the appointment of Suzanne Wilson as its next president and chief executive officer, effective 21 January 2020, in succession to Ward following his retirement from the post. In March 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting concert cancellations, the orchestra furloughed its musicians for the remainder of the 2019-2020 season, along with reductions in its administrative and artistic personnel, and salary reductions for remaining staff. In August 2020, the orchestra announced the cancellation of its 2020-2021 concert season, the first US orchestra to cancel its planned 2020-2021 season in its entirety, again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The orchestra resumed performing for the 2021-2022 season. Wilson stood down as the orchestra's president and chief executive officer in 2022. In January 2023, the orchestra announced the appointment of Peter Kjome as its next president and chief executive officer, effective 1 February 2023. In March 2023, the orchestra announced that Muñoz is to conclude his tenure as its music director at the close of the 2023-2024 season, and subsequently to take the title of artistic partner for two seasons.

References

Music directors

* John Barnett (1947-1948) * Robert Lawrence (1949-1951) * Leslie Hodge (1952-1958) * Guy Taylor (1959-1968) * Philip Spurgeon (1969-1971) * Eduardo Mata (1972-1978) *

(1978-1988) * James Sedares (1989-1995) * Hermann Michael (1997-2004) * Michael Christie (2005-2013) * Tito Muñoz (2014–present)

External links

Official website of the Phoenix Symphony

Stephen Lemons, 'Michael Christie and the Ongoing Rumble in the Phoenix Symphony'. ''Phoenix New Times'' (blog entry), 23 March 2009
{{Authority control Musical groups established in 1947 American symphony orchestras 1947 establishments in Arizona Orchestras based in Arizona Musical groups from Phoenix, Arizona