Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra |
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| Orchestra | |
Belk Theater, home of the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra
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| Founded | 1990 |
| Concert hall | Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center |
| Principal conductor | Albert E. Moehring |
The Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) was a professional music group from Charlotte, North Carolina. It was one of the biggest and busiest performing arts groups in the central Carolinas. The CPO brought beautiful orchestral music to many people.
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What Was the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra?
The Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra was a large and active orchestra. It was the second-largest professional performing arts group in its region. Each year, the CPO played about 10 to 15 concerts. Up to 85 professional musicians played in the orchestra. More than 150,000 people came to watch their performances every year.
How Did It Start?
The CPO was started in 1990. A talented Dutch pianist and conductor named Albert E. Moehring founded the orchestra. He wanted to bring great orchestral music to Charlotte.
Where Did They Perform?
At first, the orchestra performed in many different places around Charlotte. Later, the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center made the CPO its official resident orchestra. This meant the orchestra had a main home at the Belk Theater.
Special Performances at Belk Theater
Having the Belk Theater as their home was a big step for the CPO. Maestro Moehring and the orchestra filmed six special musical shows there. These shows were broadcast on PBS, a public television network. The Charlotte Philharmonic also recorded 13 music CDs.
Working with Other Artists
In September 2003, the CPO worked with the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. They helped bring a British music duo called Opera Babes to North America for the first time. This was part of the "Charlotte Shout" Festival.
Why Did It Stop Playing?
In 2010, the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra faced difficulties. This was due to a time of economic trouble called the Great Recession. The orchestra could not continue its full schedule of performances.
Summer Concerts and Future Hopes
Even though they stopped full operations, the CPO still played special summer festival concerts. They continued these for three more years. In 2015, Maestro Moehring said he was looking into bringing the Charlotte Philharmonic back. Many people in Charlotte missed their music.
