National Symphony Orchestra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Symphony Orchestra |
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Banner of the NSO, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
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| Short name | NSO |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Concert hall | John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts |
| Music director | Gianandrea Noseda |
The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is a famous American symphony orchestra. It is based in Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. A talented cellist named Hans Kindler started the NSO in 1930. Their main place to perform is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The NSO also plays for big national events. These include the yearly National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth celebrations.
The NSO loves to help people learn about classical music. They have special programs for students and teachers. These programs offer scholarships and chances for talented high school students. They help young musicians who want to play in an orchestra.
Contents
The NSO's Journey: A Look at Its History
Starting Out: 1930–1949
The NSO officially began in 1931. It was started by Hans Kindler, a cellist from the Netherlands. He led the orchestra until 1949. In the early days, Kindler often hired local musicians. Some were unemployed, or he borrowed them from other cities. During Kindler's time, musicians earned $40 a week. This covered three practice sessions and one concert. They worked for five months each year. The first woman to join the NSO was Sylvia Meyer in 1933. She was a pioneering harpist.
New Leaders and Recordings: 1949–1996
Hans Kindler and the NSO made several recordings. These were on old 78-rpm records for RCA Victor. Later, other conductors also recorded with the NSO. Howard Mitchell made stereophonic recordings for RCA. Antal Doráti recorded for Decca Records. Mstislav Rostropovich made recordings for Teldec, Sony, and Erato.
Antal Doráti became the NSO's music director in 1970. He was a Hungarian-born conductor. He had a strong reputation from working with other orchestras. Doráti led the NSO for seven years. He left in 1977 because of disagreements with the orchestra's board. After him, Leonard Slatkin led the orchestra. They continued to record for RCA Victor.
Joining the Kennedy Center: 1996–2008
In 1986, the NSO became a partner with the Kennedy Center. The orchestra has performed there every year since the Center opened in 1971.
Leonard Slatkin was the NSO's music director from 1996 to 2008. There were some disagreements between him and the orchestra. People also had comments about his choices for concerts and how he ran practices. In 2006, Iván Fischer became a main guest conductor. In 2007, he was named the orchestra's principal conductor. He started this role in the 2008–2009 season.
New Directors and Milestones: 2008–2022
In 2008, the NSO announced Christoph Eschenbach as its sixth music director. He started in the 2010–2011 season. His first contract was for four years. During his time, the NSO recorded a CD album. It was released in 2011. The album featured live performances from a concert. This concert honored the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's inauguration. Eschenbach's contract was extended several times. He finished his time as music director at the end of the 2016–2017 season. He then became the NSO's conductor laureate. This means he was still honored by the orchestra.
In 2011, Gianandrea Noseda first conducted the NSO as a guest. He returned again in 2015. In 2016, the NSO announced Noseda as its next music director. He officially started in the 2017–2018 season. His first contract was for four seasons. In 2018, his contract was extended through the 2024–2025 season. In 2019, he conducted Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde.
Recent News: 2022 to Today
In June 2022, the NSO extended Gianandrea Noseda's contract again. He will now lead the orchestra through the 2026–2027 season. In July 2022, the NSO also announced a new record label. This label will release live recordings of their performances. In January 2023, Jean Davidson was named the new executive director. She started on April 1, 2023. Noseda and Davidson will work together on the NSO's European tour. This tour will happen during the 2023-2024 season. The orchestra will perform in Germany, Italy, and Spain.
Music Directors of the NSO
- Hans Kindler (1931–1949)
- Howard Mitchell (1949–1970)
- Antal Doráti (1970–1977)
- Mstislav Rostropovich (1977–1994)
- Leonard Slatkin (1996–2008)
- Iván Fischer (principal conductor; 2008–2010)
- Christoph Eschenbach (2010–2017)
- Gianandrea Noseda (2017–present)
What the NSO Does: Activities and Programs
The NSO often takes part in important national and international events. They perform for official state events and presidential inaugurations. They also play for holiday celebrations. These include the yearly National Memorial Day Concert in May. They also perform for A Capitol Fourth concerts on July 4.
The NSO has 100 musicians. They perform about 175 concerts each year. These include classical concerts, pops concerts, and educational programs. Small groups of NSO musicians also create educational programs. These programs are for students from pre-kindergarten through high school.
The National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute is also important. For over ten years, scholarships have helped talented students. These students come from all over the country and other nations. They come to Washington, D.C., to study with NSO musicians.
The Youth Fellowship Program is a major scholarship program. It helps high school students who want to become orchestra musicians. Students accepted into this program get many benefits. They can get a private teacher from the NSO. They also get master classes and seminars. They even get chances to perform in NSO concerts. These students are chosen from many applicants. They come from different backgrounds. Some are already studying at music schools like Juilliard. Others are still in high school.
The NSO also commissions new musical works. This means they ask composers to write new pieces for them. They have asked for over 50 new works. These include short fanfares and encores. Leonard Slatkin started the National Conducting Institute in 2000. This institute helps train new conductors.
Another important project is the National Symphony Orchestra American Residencies. This program shares classical music with different parts of the United States. It explores different musical styles. It also gives regions a voice in the nation's performing arts center. This happens through exchanges and training programs. The project started in 1992. The NSO has visited fifteen states through this program.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the orchestra was affected. They had to stop performing for a while. However, they still helped their local community in 2020. They had a program called "NSO in Your Neighborhood (IYN)". Through this program, the NSO performed outdoors. They played for frontline health workers.
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See also
In Spanish: Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Estados Unidos para niños
