Marking its 67th Season in 2010–2011, The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is Connecticut’s premier musical organization. The Hartford Symphony is the second largest orchestra in New England and is widely recognized as one of America’s leading regional orchestras. We believe passionately in the performance of live symphonic music and its value in the community. To that end, the mission of the HSO is to perform live orchestral music of the highest quality for ever-expanding audiences, and to increase through its educational programs the understanding and enjoyment of that music by residents in Connecticut.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra named Edward Cumming as its ninth Music Director in June 2001. During his first season Cumming introduced several exciting and successful initiatives embracing the rich musical traditions of many of Hartford’s diverse ethnic populations. Recognizing his commitment to performing the music of our time, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has presented Edward Cumming and the HSO with its Award for Adventurous Programming in 2003 and 2007. The HSO was one of three orchestras in North America to be honored with the 2004 MetLife Award for Excellence in Community Engagement, awarded by the American Symphony Orchestra League. And the HSO has joined a distinguished roster of orchestras to receive two special honors: major funding from MetLife Foundation’s “Music for Life” program and an invitation to join the “Sustaining the American Orchestra” initiative organized by The Kennedy Center and funded by SBC.
The 2009-2010 Season marked the beginning of the Hartford Symphony’s search for its tenth music director. Four of the candidates – Constantine Kitsopoulos, Andrew Grams, Tito Munoz, and Tania Miller – will guest conduct in 2009-2010, with the remaining three candidates – Carolyn Kuan, Marcelo Leninger, and Kevin Rhodes – to guest conduct in the 2010-2011 Season.
The HSO presents more than 100 concerts annually—from The Masterworks Series, Hartford Symphony POPS!, Sunday Serenades, and education and outreach programs, to choral concerts, presented in collaboration with The Hartford Chorale and CONCORA. In addition, the HSO celebrates its tremendously popular summer series, the Talcott Mountain Music Festival, in Simsbury every summer.
A major community engagement initiative designed to reach new audiences was launched in 2000 with I Have A Dream, the HSO’s first concert celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 2001, 2004 and 2005, the popular tenor Andrea Bocelli chose the HSO to accompany him on tour, and together they have performed in 15 concerts in cities across North America. In June 2004, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra was awarded the Governor’s Arts Award “in recognition of remarkable artistic achievement and contributions to the arts in the state of Connecticut,” and in 2005, Connecticut Natural Gas presented the HSO with its Diversity Award.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1934 and formally established as the Symphony Society of Greater Hartford in 1936. Angelo Coniglione, Jacques Gordon, Leon Barzin, Moshe Paranov, and George Heck were the Orchestra’s first music directors. With the appointment of Fritz Mahler in 1953, the HSO began its Young People’s Concerts and made several highly acclaimed recordings for Vanguard. In 1964, Arthur Winograd became music director and the Orchestra grew in artistic stature, performing at Carnegie Hall and other New York locations to highly favorable reviews. Under the artistic leadership of Michael Lankester from 1985–2000, the HSO received national recognition for its programming innovations, including the popular Classical Conversations and Family Matinees, as well as a series of landmark theatrical productions.
Each season, the HSO plays to audiences numbering approximately 130,000 and reaches thousands statewide through its broadcast concerts on Connecticut Public Radio. The HSO’s extensive array of Musical Pathways educational activities serves more than 63,000 individuals in Hartford and surrounding communities annually. It is supported by more than 4,500 subscribers and 2,000 donors. The organization has been greatly strengthened by an extensive level of communication and involvement with its musicians that has become a national model for orchestral governance. Now representing 15% of the Board of Directors and one-third of its Executive Committee, musicians also serve on all major Board committees.