Oakland Symphony facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oakland Symphony Orchestra Association
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| Origin | Oakland, California, USA |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Symphony Orchestra |
| Years active | 1933–1986 |
| Associated acts | Oakland Symphony Chorus Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra |
The Oakland Symphony Orchestra Association was a professional orchestra in Oakland, California, USA. It played classical music from 1933 to 1986. Sadly, in 1986, the orchestra faced money problems and had to close. Today, the Oakland East Bay Symphony continues its musical legacy.
Contents
A Look Back: The Symphony's History
The Oakland Symphony started in 1933. Orley See was its first conductor. They played four concerts at the Oakland YMCA. Orley See led the orchestra until 1957. After him, Piero Bellugi became the music director in 1957. Then, Gerhard Samuel took over in 1959.
Growing the Orchestra in the 1960s
In the 1960s, the orchestra played at the Oakland Civic Auditorium. This building is now called the Kaiser Convention Center. The Symphony grew a lot during this time. They went from eight concerts to twenty-four each season. The orchestra became known for new and exciting programs. They also worked closely with the community.
Youth Orchestra and Chorus
In 1964, Gerhard Samuel helped create the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra. This was a very successful part of the Symphony. It had seventy-five teenage musicians. They made five recordings and toured around the world. They even won a Silver Medal in Berlin! The youth orchestra played in schools and for community groups. They also asked composers to write new music for them. Young volunteers helped raise money for these projects.
Samuel also started the Oakland Symphony Chorus. This group grew to 120 singers. They performed with other orchestras, like the San Francisco Symphony.
Big Help from the Ford Foundation
In 1966, the Ford Foundation started a program. They gave money to cultural groups. The goal was to help these groups become financially stable. The Oakland Symphony was one of 61 orchestras chosen. They received $1.35 million. This was the largest grant for an orchestra their size.
New Leadership and Community Reach
In 1971, Harold Farberman became the new music director. Under him, the yearly concert series grew even more. They added "Pops Series" concerts. They also started concerts and educational programs for young people in schools. The Symphony gave free concerts in public places. They also worked to reach different groups of people. This included a program for young string players from diverse backgrounds. It gave them a chance to play with a professional orchestra.
The Paramount Theatre Home
In 1972, the Symphony Association bought the Paramount Theatre. This theater had 2,998 seats. Important businessmen like Steven Bechtel Jr. and Edgar Kaiser Sr helped with donations. The theater was beautifully restored in 1973. It won an award in 1981 for this work. The Paramount Theatre is an Art Deco masterpiece. It was later named a National Historic Landmark.
The theater itself was a big draw for audiences. After it opened, the Symphony sold almost all its season tickets. Most individual concerts also sold out. However, even with full houses, the Paramount was expensive to run. The Association also had a $1 million loan for the renovation. In 1975, they gave the theater to the City of Oakland for $1. In return, they got 40 years of free rent. To pay off the loan, the Symphony used money from the Ford Foundation grant. This money was supposed to be for long-term savings. Over the next ten years, they kept using these savings until they were all gone.
A New Conductor and Challenges
When Farberman left in 1978, Calvin Simmons became the new conductor. Simmons was already famous. He had conducted many leading orchestras around the world. He was also the first person to win the Leopold Stokowski Conducting Award. As an African American conductor, he brought more respect to the orchestra. His presence helped the orchestra get more grants and funding.
Sadly, Simmons died in 1982. This left the orchestra without a leader during a tough time. Debts were growing, but ticket sales stayed the same. Leonard Slatkin helped as an artistic advisor for a year. Then, Richard Buckley took over in 1983. Under Buckley, the Symphony continued to offer more concerts. Critics liked their performances. But ticket sales for season passes stayed flat, and single ticket sales went down.
Final Years and Closure
In 1985–86, the musicians went on strike. This meant the October opening of the season was canceled. The strike lasted until November. The agreement included more services and pay for the musicians.
At the same time, the board of directors was changing. This caused problems and upset some long-time supporters. In spring 1986, the Symphony announced its biggest season ever. They planned more concerts in Moraga and Berkeley. They also said their main concerts would move back to the Oakland Auditorium. This building is now called the Calvin Simmons Theatre.
A month later, the Symphony cut the season almost in half. They said it was due to money problems. This big cut meant the musicians needed to agree to new terms. But the management and musicians could not agree. On August 8, the musicians filed a complaint. On August 21, the management filed for bankruptcy. On September 12, the musicians and management met one last time. The musicians would not accept the management's offer. So, the board voted to close the Oakland Symphony Orchestra Association for good.
Despite its later financial struggles, the Oakland Symphony was very important. For over 50 years, it was a major cultural group in California. In its early years, people praised its bold programs. The musicians were often highly praised. Its education program reached over 20,000 children each year. Many of these children came from diverse backgrounds. The Symphony was also praised for its services to minority groups. This included its Festival of Black Music. The Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra and Chorus were also highly respected. They set a great example for other groups.
In 1988, the Oakland East Bay Symphony was founded. Musicians from the old Oakland Symphony joined with the Oakland Symphony League. The Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra and Chorus still exist today.
Music Directors
- Orley See (1933–1958)
- Piero Bellugi (1958–1959)
- Gerhard Samuel (1959–1971)
- Harold Farberman (1971-1978)
- Calvin Simmons (1979-1982)
- Leonard Slatkin, interim (1982-1983)
- Richard Buckley (1983-1986)
- Michael Morgan (1988- )
Awards and Recognition
