Juneau Symphony facts for kids

The Juneau Symphony is a special orchestra located in Juneau, Alaska, which is the capital city of Alaska. It's made up of talented musicians, some of whom play professionally and others who play for fun. They perform amazing classical music for people in Juneau and nearby towns.

A Musical Journey: The Juneau Symphony's History

The Juneau Symphony started way back in 1962. A high school music teacher named Cliff Berge and his wife, Gladys, wanted to create a place for local musicians to play classical music.

Their first concert was at the 20th Century Theater in downtown Juneau. Back then, they were called the Juneau Symphonette. Later, their name changed a few times, eventually becoming the Juneau Symphony. They have been performing concerts for audiences in Juneau and other Southeast Alaska communities ever since.

In 1976, the Juneau Symphony formed its first board of directors. A board of directors is a group of people who help guide and manage an organization. In 1981, they officially became a non-profit organization. This means they use any money they earn to support their mission, rather than to make a profit for owners.

Who Plays in the Symphony?

The Juneau Symphony mostly relies on local musicians from Juneau. About 70 players are needed for the orchestra. However, they also welcome musicians from other parts of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. These guest musicians help make the orchestra even stronger and fill any missing instrument spots.

The Symphony often works with other local arts groups. These include the Juneau Lyric Opera, Perseverance Theater, International Folk Dancers, and the Juneau Oratorio Choir.

Music for Young People

In 1980, the Symphony added a special Children's Concert to its schedule. This concert is for local schools and often features the winner of the Symphony's yearly youth concerto competition. A concerto is a piece of music where one instrument plays a solo with the orchestra.

The Symphony also sponsors a student symphony, which is an orchestra just for students. They also organize an annual "Showcase" series. This series features smaller groups of local musicians playing chamber music, which is music for a few instruments.

Special Performances and Tours

The Juneau Symphony has performed at many important events. In 1987, they played at the ceremony for Alaska Governor Steve Cowper. In 1997, former Governor Jay Hammond even narrated a piece called Copland's Lincoln Portrait with the orchestra.

Most of their main concerts happen at the Juneau-Douglas High School Auditorium. When they have enough money, the orchestra also tours Southeast Alaska. They started touring in 1967 with a concert in Petersburg. They have also performed in towns like Skagway, Sitka, Wrangell, Ketchikan, and Haines.

Conductors of the Symphony

For its first twenty years, the Juneau Symphony had volunteer conductors. A conductor is the person who leads the orchestra, guiding the musicians with their movements and helping them play together. Some of these early conductors included Cliff Berge, Lawton Hull, Jane Stewart, George Hoyt, and Bernie Hendricks.

In 1983, the Symphony hired its first paid conductor, Mel Flood. He was also a full-time teacher at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). He taught music and conducted the Juneau Symphony as part of his job. Mel Flood led the Symphony for 17 years.

In 1999, Kyle Wiley Pickett was chosen to be the new Music Director and conductor. He was also the conductor for the Redding Symphony in California.

Kyle Wiley Pickett's Time

Kyle Wiley Pickett was a very talented musician. He led the orchestra in many famous classical pieces. He also invited many amazing soloists to perform with the Symphony. These soloists played concertos for instruments like violin, cello, and piano. He also featured local musicians and winners of the student concerto competition as soloists.

Pickett also started the Juneau Symphony Chorus. This chorus added voices to the orchestra for big pieces that needed singers. He also began an annual summer Pops concert series. These concerts feature popular music from movies, musicals, and Motown.

Before concerts, Pickett would hold "Concert Conversations." These were talks where music lovers could learn more about the music they were about to hear. In 2013, Maestro Pickett decided to take on new roles leading symphonies in other states. He stepped down from the Juneau Symphony after the 2013/14 season.

The Juneau Symphony Today

The Juneau Symphony has grown a lot in recent years. They now have a part-time administrator or executive director who helps manage everything. They have over 80 musicians and a big student symphony program with different levels for young musicians.

The Symphony also advertises its performances outside of Juneau. They want to reach a wider audience in the whole region. They continue to bring in guest musicians from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. These musicians help fill in if local talent isn't available for certain instruments.