History

The Conductors
The roots of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra (GSO) extend back to the 1920's when a group of musicians at Woman's College (now UNCG) banded together under the direction of Henry Fuchs. In 1939, the Dean of Music at the Woman's College, H. Hugh Altvater, formally organized the group as the Greensboro Orchestra, which was financially sustained by the college. In 1951, when Concertmaster George Dickieson, head of the Woman's College Violin Department became the conductor, the orchestra began to gain considerable community support and became a member of the American Symphony Orchestra League. An advisory committee was formed to further the development of the orchestra which later became independent of the University. The Greensboro Symphony Society became an independent organization and eventually assumed total financial responsibility for the Orchestra.

In 1959, the Greensboro Symphony Society was created with the goals of promoting and fostering musical culture and education in the community. Under the leadership of Miles Wolff, the first president of the Symphony Society and editor of the Greensboro Daily News & Record, the Society was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1959. In 1963, Thomas Cousins was appointed conductor. The steady growth in size, coupled with the orchestra's image in the community, prompted the Society's decision to assume responsibility for the conductor's salary. In 1964, Miles Wolff led the development of the Greensboro Symphony Guild to aid the Greensboro Symphony Society in the promotion of an orchestra in the community.

The Junior League was enlisted to help organize this community-based guild comprised of dedicated women. In 1967, Sheldon Morgenstern became the first conductor to be supported by the Society. In 1975, Dr. Peter Paul Fuchs became Music Director/Conductor. At the conclusion of the 1986/87 season, Maestro Fuchs was honored with the title of Conductor Laureate. Paul Anthony McRae joined the orchestra as its Music Director in June of 1987 and led the Orchestra for more than eight seasons. Stuart Malina, a graduate of Harvard University, Yale School of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music, became the Symphony's sixth Music Director in May of 1996. Upon his departure in 2003, the Greensboro Symphony world-renowned violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky as the seventh Music Director in its history.

Community Outreach
The Symphony's educational programs, supported by the NC Arts Council and the Greensboro Symphony Guild, served more than 50,000 students during the 2003-2004 season. The Music in the Middle and the Elementary Student programs were designed to correlate with the appropriate grade curriculum. The Greensboro Symphony's educational theme for 2004/2005 was “DRUMS RULE!” The goal of “DRUMS RULE!” was to showcase the numerous percussion instruments which produce an infinity of sound effects in the orchestra. This section of the ensemble keeps the rhythm, adds body to the sound, builds excitement and adds splashes of musical color. “DRUMS RULE!” was an exciting program featuring instruments which express our instinctive love of rhythm. With its splashes and bangs, the percussion department is sometimes affectionately called “the Orchestra’s Kitchen.” This educational program was not only musically and visually entertaining, but the audiences learned the scope of instrument use and sound as the talented musicians performed their way across the stage to prove that “DRUMS RULE!" The 2005/2006 Educational Program will focus on the life and music of Ludwig van Beethoven, the German composer whose masterpieces have been enjoyed by concert goers around the world for centuries. As part of the program, four Greensboro Symphony instrumental ensembles visited every (60) Guilford County elementary school and provided a close-up experience for elementary students in a classroom setting. Ensemble members engaged students in dialogue with games and questions about music, sound, the physics of sound and the instruments. The orKIDstra Series was performed for pre-school and kindergarten students in Guilford County Schools. Adult Education Programs included Music at Midday (a music appreciation series held in January and February at area retirement communities) Concert Preludes (pre-concert lectures by guest speakers, open to all classical concert-goers) and Postludes, an after concert conversation with the Music Director and guest artists.

Youth Involvement
In its 33rd season, the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra performed three formal concerts and held a concerto competition that awarded a solo performance opportunity with the GSYO to three exceptionally talented students. Tuition, private lesson and summer study scholarships were awarded to 30 students. The GSYO made its first CD in 2001 and has also had the honor of giving a concert at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The Greensboro Symphony Youth Strings enjoyed continued growth during 2002-2003 and presented two concerts at the Recital Hall at the UNCG School of Music building. It provides an opportunity for young musicians to participate in a fun and educational ensemble setting with their peers.

The Lillian Rauch Instrument Loan and Music Scholar program continued to flourish, and the program grew from 15 to 18 students who study bass, cello, violin, viola, and piano with professional musicians from the Greensboro Symphony. The program is held at Hampton Elementary School, and students are loaned a string instrument and provided with group lessons. Beginning Strings classes were held at Peck, Jones, and elementary schools for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students who are interested in learning a stringed instrument. Those students who choose to continue will eventually be eligible to participate in the Instrument Loan and Music Scholar Program, the Youth Strings, and even the GSYO.

Endowment Fund
The Greensboro Symphony Endowment Fund was started in 1986 when the Symphony Guild contributed $50,000 toward endowing the $250,000 Concertmaster's Chair. The endowment of the Chair was completed in 1995. Guild member Kay Edwards and Maurice Jennings launched a successful campaign, which accomplished the $1 million mark in the Fund. The Guild supports the endowment each year. The fund surpassed $3 Million during the 2004-2005 season. The Endowment has been under the leadership of Guild member Caroline M. Lee for many years. Led by Barbara Cone, a special initiative was undertaken by Endowment donors who contributed additional funds in honor of Caroline Lee's dedication to the GSO endowment. The Associate Concertmaster's Chair has been endowed in her name.

Associations
The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra is a member of the American Symphony Orchestra League, American Arts Alliance, Association of Symphony Orchestras of North Carolina, Arts Advocates of North Carolina and is a funded member of the North Carolina Arts Council and the United Arts Council of Greensboro.