Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra facts for kids

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra (TBSO) is a professional orchestra in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It is a very important part of the city's arts scene. The TBSO is special because it's the only professional orchestra between Toronto and Winnipeg. This makes Thunder Bay the smallest city in Canada to have a full-time professional classical orchestra!

History of the Orchestra

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra started on November 29, 1960. It was first called the Lakehead Symphony Orchestra. Their first show was at Lakeview High School. Rene Charrier was their first conductor. He and Doug Dahlgren got stuck in Port Arthur after a car accident. The mayor, Saul Laskin, liked their music and asked them to stay.

In 1970, the towns of Port Arthur and Fort William joined together. Because of this, the orchestra changed its name to the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Boris Brott was the Music Director from 1967 to 1972. Dwight Bennett led the orchestra from 1974 to 1989. In 1974, the Thunder Bay Symphony Chorus was formed. This allowed the orchestra to perform big songs with choirs.

Until 1985, the TBSO played in different places. They performed in schools, churches, and the Lakehead Exhibition Centre. In 1985, the new Thunder Bay Community Auditorium opened. The orchestra then moved its bigger concerts there.

After Dwight Bennett, Glen Mossop was the Music Director from 1989 to 1994. Stephane Laforest followed him from 1995 to 1999. During this time, the orchestra faced some big money challenges. But they worked hard to keep going.

In 2000, Geoffrey Moull became the Music Director. With his help, the TBSO became stronger. In 2003, the Thunder Bay Regional Arts Council gave an award to Moull and the TBSO. This was for their amazing education programs. By 2004, the orchestra offered 25 main concerts each year. They also added a Conductor-in-Residence position. CBC Radio 2 started recording and broadcasting the TBSO's concerts across Canada in 2001.

The TBSO also made some great recordings. Their CD called Variations on a Memory was very popular in 2005. Another CD, Uptown goes Downtown, with blues artist Rita Chiarelli, was nominated for two awards. Geoffrey Moull finished his time as Music Director in 2009.

In 2010, American conductor Arthur Post became the Music Director. He brought new ideas and energy to the orchestra. He helped them create seven new music pieces. He also recorded three CDs, including one for their 50th anniversary. One of his recordings was nominated for a JUNO award in 2019. This recording, "Into the Wonder," featured the Gryphon Trio playing with the TBSO. Arthur Post also helped the orchestra work with local musicians.

In 2017, Paul Haas became the Conductor and Music Director. He had led other youth symphonies before. Haas has added new types of concerts. These include an annual Indigenous concert called Noondaagotoon. This means "Play it!" in Ojibwa. They also have Nordic, Outsider's, Women's, and Earth Day concerts.

The TBSO performs many concerts each year. They have two main series at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium: Masters and Pops. They also have three smaller series: House, Family, and Northern Lights. In total, they perform over 50 concerts every year. About 29,000 people come to their concerts. This includes 10,000 students! The orchestra also tours across Northwestern Ontario. They visit towns like Kenora, Dryden, and Sioux Lookout.

The TBSO employs 30 full-time musicians. They also hire up to 30 more musicians for many concerts. A team of staff helps run the orchestra. The TBSO is a member of Orchestras Canada. It helps the arts economy in Thunder Bay.

Awards and Nominations

In 2019, the TBSO received a Juno nomination. This was for their album Into the Wonder. This album features music by Canadian composer Jordan Pal. The Juno Awards are very important music awards in Canada.

Music Directors

Directors