Windsor Symphony Orchestra


The Windsor Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra located in Windsor, Ontario. The orchestra performs in Southwestern Ontario, at the Capitol Theatre, Home of the WSO.
WWW Official Site

History

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1941, originally as the Windsor Concert Orchestra. The name was changed to The Windsor Symphony in 1948. The orchestra’s first conductor was Matti Holli, who remained with the orchestra until his death in 1977.
The most recent Canadian conductor to be appointed as music director was Dwight Bennett in 1986. Under Bennett, the orchestra became fully professional but also ran into financial difficulties through unrealized revenue projections and a musician's strike in 1988. He was succeeded by American conductor Susan Haig in 1991. Music director from 2001 to 2012 was American conductor John Morris Russell. During his tenure, the orchestra received a Juno nomination for their recording of Peter and the Wolf & Last Minute Lulu. The orchestra also earned several other awards, including two Ontario Lieutenant Governor's awards for the arts. He conducted his last concert as music director on May 12, 2012. On Feb 26, 2013, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Robert Franz as their sixth music director. Franz is the third American conductor to be appointed to the position. Franz died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma on September 2, 2025.
The Windsor Symphony Orchestra performs at several venues in the Windsor-Essex County area but, since the beginning of the 2012–2013 season, is primarily based at the historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Windsor, a restored former movie house.

Concerts and programs

Main stage

Annually, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra stages 4 to 5 programmes with full orchestra in its "Masterworks" series and 4 to 5 Pops programmes, each performed at the historic Capitol Theatre in Windsor. The WSO also has 4 to 5 chamber orchestra programmes in its "Intimate Classics" series performed in Windsor, Leamington and Tecumseh, Ontario.

Chorus

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra Chorus was created in 1988 as a choral group directly affiliated with the orchestra. Previously, the orchestra would perform alongside the Windsor Classic Chorale and groups from Windsor and Leamington. The Chorus, which is volunteer and by audition, performs several concerts throughout the season at the Capitol Theatre as well as at UW Assumption University Chapel, covering classical as well as contemporary and pop music. The current chorusmaster is Bruce Kotowich.

Community outreach

Music For Health

The WSO Music for Health program provides live musical performances for residents and healthcare workers in long-term care facilities, retirement homes, hospitals, and other social service agencies in Windsor-Essex County. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the WSO worked with healthcare facilities to provide access to digital performances.

Neighborhood Concerts

The Windsor Symphony regularly performs in the community in local parks and neighborhoods. The WSO also works with community groups and organizations to perform at fundraisers and events.

Education initiatives

Education Concert Series

The Education Concert Series consists of three concert programmes designed kindergarten to grade three; grades four to six, and grades seven to twelve. The concerts are developed to be interactive and often feature young performers as soloists.

Family Concerts

The WSO's Family Concert series is an interactive and engaging introduction to music for young children ages 2–6 and their families. Music hosts guide children in exploration of classic melodies, orchestral families, traditional songs, art, story telling and magic.

Read-Aloud with the WSO!

Read-Aloud is a digital library of children's stories narrated by WSO Conductor Robert Franz, former Assistant Conductor Daniel Wiley, and various community guests. The short videos are designed for children aged 4-10.

Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra

Created in 2004, the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra gives Students between the age of 12-20 the opportunity to rehearse and perform orchestral music in an orchestral setting under professional direction. The WSYO performs 3-5 concerts annually including Side-by-Side performance with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

Awards and accolades

2010 – Windsor Endowment for the Arts Award to Arts Organizations given to the Armouries Redevelopment Committee; WEA Arts Leadership Award for Performing Arts to John Morris Russell; Herb Gray Harmony Award to John Morris Russell in recognition of the WSO's programming and outreach activities that consistently support and celebrate the region's cultural diversity; A recording by CBC Radio 2 of the Windsor Canadian Music Festival performance by the WSO of composer Jordan Nobles' work Aurora Borealis selected to represent Canada at the International Rostrum of Composers in Lisbon.2008 – Juno Award nomination for the recording of Peter and the Wolf & Last Minute Lulu; Orchestras Canada Betty Webster Award presented to persons who, over the long term, make a difference in the Canadian orchestral community, given to former Executive Director Mina Grossman Ianni.2007 – Vide Peene Fund Orchestra Award 2006 – 5 out of 5 stars from Rick Phillips, CBC's Sound Advice for Peter and the Wolf & Last Minute Lulu2004 – Gold World medal, New York Festivals Awards for Television and New Media2004 – Gemini Award nomination for performance on CBC's Opening Night2001 & 2003 – Ontario Lieutenant-Governor's Award for the Arts

Discography

World premieres

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra has presented over 40 World Premieres since 2001. This includes 29 works commissioned by the WSO.
YearComposerPiecePremiereCommissioned
2000-01Grossi, JasonGesturesCanadian Premier
2000-01Kovarik, ChristopherMorning CommuteWorld Premier
2000-01Kuzmenko, LarysaConcerto for Piano & PercussionWorld Premier
2001-02Kovarik, ChristopherSinfoniettaWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2001-02Malcom, TrevorOne Hundred Thirty Something Point 5World PremierWSO Commissioned
2001-02McIntrye, PaulRequiescantin PaceWorld Premier
2003-04Currie, NeilSentiment Number 3World PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Hatch, PeterCrystal FragmentsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Lee, BrentVoca me cum benedictusWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Lee, BrentLike BreathWorld Premier
2003-04Lee, BrentLast Minute LuluWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Lee, BrentGatineau RiverWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Palmer, JulietSwerveWorld Premier
2003-04Rosen, RobertArt of AqueductsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Wiebe, PeterMovimento for StringsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Yzeiri, BesnikPotpuriWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Currie, NielSentiment Number 3World PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Hatch, PeterCrystal FragmanetsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2003-04Rosen, RobertArt of AqueductsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Frehner, PaulTightrope: For 3 Accordions and OrchestraWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Lee, BrentSelvage for Orchestra and MidiWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Lee, BrentIron HorsesWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Lee, BrentStone and StarWorld Premier
2004-05Lee, BrentEquinox BelowWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2004-05Roi, MichelineTengo Que DecirWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2005-06Korndorf, NikolaiLet the Earth Bring ForthNorth American Premier
2005-06Lee, BrentSymphony No. 1 World PremierWSO Commissioned
2005-06Lee, BrentTrance Phatty AcidWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2005-06Lee, BrentArcadiaWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2005-06Lee, BrentLuminous NightWorld Premier
2005-06Morlock, JocelynMusic of the Romantic EraWorld Premier
2005-06Yusupova, IraidaOn My Way to DamascusWorld Premier
2006-07Abram, JohnKitchenetteWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2006-07Godin, ScottO Sweet SpontaneousWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2006-07Oesterle, MichaelPerennialsWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2006-07Oliver, JohnFace in the AbstractWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2006-07Smith, LindaBurnt UmberWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2008-09Kuster, KristinBeneath this StoneCanadian Premier
2008-09Lee, BrentRuck N' Roll for Electric Viola and OrchestraWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2008-09Marwood, ShelleyOf Such Ecstatic SoundWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2008-09Plowman, Michael RichardJourney to the CenterWorld PremierWSO Commissioned
2008-09Santos, ErikSymphony No. 1 "Shards"Canadian Premier-
2019Poupel, FarhadZayande-rud for string orchestraCanadian Premier-