The History of The Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra
In 1932, eight to ten instrumentalists gathered in the home of
Doctor Will Taylor to play orchestra music for their own enjoyment. From
these few fiddlers and horn players, the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra
has evolved into a body of over 85 members. The symphony provides music
enrichment for the entire North Olympic Peninsula, has received numerous
awards for its quality and outreach efforts, and has performed in China,
South America and Europe.
The first symphony members played light opera and Sousa marches in each
others homes. They gave their first public performance in 1934, playing
a comic operetta called "Captain Crossbones" in Port Angeles, Port Townsend
and Forks. They called themselves "The Little Symphony", and as interest
in them grew during the Depression,
unemployed musicians were recruited to Port Angeles, and provided jobs
to fill out the ranks. By 1937 the symphony had grown to over 30 members.
In the early 1940’s the Little Symphony gave its first radio performance
from Victoria on Radio Station CFCT.
By 1958, the symphony had grown to need a professional conductor and
hired James Van Horn as its first "paid" conductor. He was paid out
of admission receipts and averaged about $3000/season. James Van Horn increased the size and the
capability of the symphony body. The Port Angeles Symphony grew to
65 members and encouraged talented local students to join and play.
As the talents of the musicians grew, so did the difficulty of the programming.
A symphony board including prominent community members formed at this time,
and the symphony began to raise its profile and funds for its activities.
Dr. David Andre was hired to conduct in 1973. He was able to attract
seasoned, professional musicians to the symphony and soon a full third
of the ranks were filled with this caliber of talent. Like Van Horn, he was
able to raise the difficulty of programming to challenge the ability of the performers
and the symphony was soon rewarded
with three ASCAP awards for "Adventuresome Overall Programming of Contemporary
Music."
Ed Grier conducted in the interim between directors in 1985, when
the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra was invited to tour the
People’s Republic of China. This began a series of successful world tours,
which included Peru and Bolivia, 1988; Spain, including the World Expo in Seville and
France in 1992; and in 1996 they became the first symphony from the U.S.
to tour Bulgaria. They also toured Greece and Turkey in 1996, and in 1999, the
Post Angeles Symphony toured Thailand and Vietnam. In 2002, 97 players,
family and community members traveled throughout Portugal, Northern Spain,
and Morocco. A concert tour of Costa Rica is planned for 2005.
Nico Snel became the symphony's conductor and musical
director in the fall of 1988, and led the symphony in their concerts
and tours until his death in 2003.. (See more about Nico Snel).
Adam Stern was selected as the new Music Director and Conductor in 2005.
Today, the symphony provides the North Olympic Peninsula with an ambitious
five concert subscription series, along with pops concerts in Port Angeles
and Sequim, chamber orchestra performances, special performances for students,
and several outreach programs including sponsorship of the North
Olympic Youth Symphony. The dedicated volunteer performers come as
far as Neah Bay to the west and Seattle to the east and are supported by
many more volunteers seen and unseen.
The Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra is a member of the American Symphony
Orchestra League, the Association of Northwest Symphony Orchestras and
sponsors the North Olympic Youth Symphony.
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