GSO in the News
Guelph Symphony to present Mozart Requiem at the Basilica
The Guelph Symphony Orchestra will present its Mozart Requiem in the Basilica Concert, at the Basilica of Our Lady, on Sunday March 24th, at 3pm. This concert is sponsored by Bank of Montreal.
Shrouded in mystery, infused with theatricality and poignancy, Mozart’s powerful Requiem remains beloved by audiences. This program also includes Andrew Balfour’s ethereal Pyotr’s Dream.
Conductor, Adam Johnson
Special Guests: The Symphonic Choir of the University of Guelph (Dr. Irene Gregorio, Music Director)
Soloists: Bethany Horst, soprano
Jennifer Enns-Modolo, alto
Ryan Allen, tenor
Christopher Dunham, baritone
Click on photo to read complete article on
GUELPH TODAY.
Photo Credit: Albert Zablit
Guelph Symphony holding Annual New Year’s Day concert
Ring in the New Year with your favourite Strauss waltzes, familiar melodies, soaring arias and Viennese-inspired revelry with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra’s annual New Year’s Day in Vienna Concert.
Held at the River Run Centre, it will be conducted by Adam Johnson and accompanied by soprano Midori Marsh.
Marsh was named one of the CBC’s “30 hot Classical Musicians under 30” in 2020, and nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for her portrayal of Papagena in the Canadian Opera Company’s 2022 production of The Magic Flute.
Click on photo to read complete article on GUELPH TODAY.
Photo Credit: Larry Walsh
Reverberations on the Loss of the KW Symphony
On Friday October 6th, Mike Farwell had Adam Johnson, our new Music Director, as a guest on his show.
The portion with Adam begins at 20:15. Here is a link to this meaningful exchange with a brilliant interviewer!
Mike Farwell Show, October 6, 2023.
GSO will be honouring Adam’s generous offer to KW ticket holders. Information is posted on the bottom of our homepage.
Guelph Symphony is Heartbroken
Members of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra are “heartbroken” after the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony abruptly cancelled its 2023-2024 season, halting numerous programs and leaving more than 50 musicians out of work.
“It’s heart wrenching,” said Catherine Molina, general manager of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra. “It was not anything that we would ever expect to hear.”
The KWS said financial issues were to blame, citing “an unprecedented rise in costs following the global pandemic” in a post on Facebook.
To resume the season and avoid insolvency, they would have needed $2 million by Friday; but they declared bankruptcy Thursday, ceasing all operations.
Molina called it “an immeasurable loss to the broader community, including their incredible professional musicians. They’re very devoted to community outreach and to working with youth.”
Click on the photo to read the complete article on Guelph Today!
Our welcome Adam and Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant Recognition Event
Sunday August 20, 2023
Pictured below: Adam Johnson, Music Director, Mike Schreiner, Guelph MPP, Catherine Molina, General Manager
On Sunday August 20th, local MPP Mike Schreiner met with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra (GSO) to welcome Adam Johnson as the Guelph Symphony’s new Music Director and to celebrate the $28,500 Resilient Community Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grant helped to build resiliency from the impacts of COVID-19 by funding operational costs and assisting with the redesign of programming.
“As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Guelph, I want to congratulate the Guelph Symphony Orchestra on receiving the Resilient Communities Fund grant,” said MPP Mike Schreiner. “This grant will offer critical support with post pandemic recovery efforts while also enabling the organization to continue making music accessible to all through its innovative community programming – including youth outreach. This grant helps GSO continue to provide fundamental contributions to the cultural landscape of our city.”
First awarded in July 2022, the funds supported staffing and mentorship costs, website upgrades and to support the redesigning of programs and creating short outreach concerts to engage with the community. Thanks to the grant, people of all ages have been able to access online educational materials and short, live performances in Guelph.
“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be underestimated,” said Catherine Molina, General Manager of the Guelph Symphony. “With so many uncertainties facing performing arts organizations, this funding has allowed us to create short, engaging outreach performances for our community in tandem with online educational supports while providing mentorship and performance experience to young musicians entering the field after such a period of disruption.”
One of the organizations mandates is to make outreach services available to all, at no cost or subsidized, offering equal access for all to this great art form. GSO believes that music can unite people, with the potential to reduce or even eliminate socio-economic differences. To read more about their programs, please visit www.guelphsymphony.com.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
Gurdeep Pandher at the Arboretum with Guelph Symphony
On a joy tour, Gurdeep Pandher is bringing the positivity of his bhangra dancing from social media to in-person events across the country.
Pandher, who is Sikh-Canadian, sparked interest during the pandemic by posting videos online of him dancing to traditional folk music and dance called bhangra.
He lives in the Yukon, but on Tuesday Pandher made his stop in Guelph at the Arboretum to team up with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra (GSO).
Catherine Molina, general manager of GSO, said she has always wanted to work with Pandher and the last minute opportunity presented itself.
Click on the photo to read the complete article on Guelph Today!
Guelph Symphony launches new season at River Run Centre, October 2nd.
Guelph Symphony Orchestra will kick off its 22-23 Season on October 2nd, with a program that highlights the power and beauty of a full orchestra.
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, (star of the CBC Documentary, “Disrupter Conductor”), will lead the orchestra, as we resume the final steps in our search for the next Artistic Director of Guelph Symphony. Candidates two through six will each conduct a concert this season and the new Director will be announced in May!
“We have called our 2022-23 concert series “In Search of Joy”, as a tribute to the power of music to captivate and foster positivity and a strong sense of connection!” said Catherine Molina, the orchestra’s General Manager.
All concerts in the 2022-23 Season will be one hour long, without intermission. GSO now offers tiered pricing at River Run Centre..
Click on the photo to read the complete article on Guelph Today!
Ontario Trillium Grant Recognition Event
Guelph, ON – On Friday September 23, the Guelph Symphony held an event via Zoom to celebrate the received a $24,000 Community Building Fund- Operating Steam Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help us continue delivering experiences for the community by retaining staff, as we build and recover from the impacts of Covid-19.
This grant allowed GSO to retain key staff to plan and oversee re-imagined performances, engage with patrons, audiences, players, and our community. Thanks to the grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, people of all ages have been able to access online visits and short live performances.
“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be underestimated,” said Catherine Molina, General Manager of the Guelph Symphony. “At a time when concert halls were closed and indoor events extremely limited, this grant has allowed us to continue to be in a position to engage with patrons, audiences, players and our community and to continue to serve our community through a difficult period.”
One of the organization’s most important mandate is to make outreach services available to all, at no cost or subsidized, offering equal access for all to this great art form. GSO believes that music has the ability to unite people, with the potential to reduce or even eliminate socio- economic differences, and so feels it is important to keep the presence of music ever available in our community. To read more about our programs, please visit www.guelphsymphony.com
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Since 2020, OTF has supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
