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 (often called CPO) was a professional music group based in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the United States. It was one of the biggest and busiest performing arts groups in the central Carolinas. The orchestra usually played about 10 to 15 concerts each year. Up to 85 professional musicians worked for the CPO. More than 150,000 people attended their performances every year.
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How the Orchestra Started
The Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra was created in 1990. A talented Dutch pianist and conductor named Albert E. Moehring started the group. In its early years, the orchestra performed in many different places around Charlotte.
Finding a Home
Later, Judith Allen, who was the Executive Director of the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, made the CPO the main orchestra for the center. This was a big step for the orchestra. It meant they had a regular place to perform.
Music for Everyone
With a steady home, Maestro Moehring and the orchestra were able to create six special music shows for PBS. PBS is a public television network. They also recorded 13 music albums on CDs. This helped their music reach many more people.
Special Performances
In September 2003, Judith Allen from the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center asked Maestro Moehring and the CPO to work with them. They collaborated on a special event called the "Charlotte Shout" Festival. This festival featured the first North American performance of a British music duo called Opera Babes.
Challenges and Hope
Around 2010, the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra faced difficulties. This was due to a tough economic time known as the Great Recession. Because of this, the orchestra could not continue all its regular performances. However, they managed to keep playing special summer festival concerts for three more years.
By 2015, many people in Charlotte missed the orchestra. Maestro Moehring noticed this strong demand. He shared that he was looking into ways to bring the Charlotte Philharmonic back to the city.
