About the Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra
Mission Statement:
The Rogue Valley Symphony is the catalyst that inspires audiences of all ages and stimulates dialogue through live performances of diverse music and educational programs. We succeed by cultivating growth in artistic excellence, in our audiences, in community support, and in organizational sustainability.
The Rogue Valley Symphony is a 50-70 piece orchestra that presents 5 Classics Series concerts in an 8-month season (September-April). Each Series is presented in Ashland at the Southern Oregon University Music Recital Hall, in Medford at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater and in Grants Pass at the Grants Pass Performing Arts Center. We are currently under the direction of Music Director Martin Majkut and Executive Director Cybele Abbett. The Rogue Valley Symphony Association also has a governing Board of Directors, comprised of 22 members. We run within a budget of just under $500,000. We serve over 5,000 patrons through our Classics Series.
In addition to the Classics Series, each year we present A Day of Music to area school children, grades 3-6, and a Family Discovery Concert for families with small children. The RVS also enriches its education programs through the Chamber Players Quintet in the classrooms with their outreach into local schools, with 60 performances in 39 schools this year in Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties. The Chamber Players Quintet is comprised of 2 violins, viola, cello, and bass from the RVS string section. In addition we offer free tickets to students and accompanying adults through our Connecting With the Classics program. We reach over 10,000 students each year with our four education programs.
We have presented Candlelight Concerts or Pops concerts in December as well as Valentine’s offerings during past seasons.
History:
It was an historic moment: 8:15 p.m., November 16, 1967, in Medford's Mid-High School Auditorium. Conductor Frederick Palmer raised his baton and launched the Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra into Franz Schubert's Rosamunde Overture. Thus did life begin for the RVSO. Two days later, after the orchestra had completed a second performance in Ashland, the reviewer in the Ashland Daily Tidings concluded his report with this statement: "There seems a happy future ahead for the newly formed orchestra." Then an assistant professor of music at Southern Oregon College, Dr. Palmer had been locating, recruiting, and organizing musicians throughout the Rogue Valley area for about two years prior to the first concert. As the founder, he gives credit to Marabel Frohnmayer (Mrs. Otto) for planting the idea of a Rogue Valley Symphony in his head and to the late SOC President Elmo Stevenson for lending solid support during the formation period.
The orchestra began with some 55 players, as compared to 50 to 70 on the current roster. Dr. Palmer smiles as he recalls the uncanny good fortune he had in filling out the instrumentation of his ensemble. "When I sorely needed an oboe," he said, "somebody would call and apply for the oboe position." In the beginning Fred Palmer was the director, conductor, and manager of the organization. The RVSO budget for the first year was $4500, and the season ended with $92 in the black. Today's budget, reflecting an expanded program, full-time director/conductor, executive director, office staff, and choice guest artists, is nearly $500,000 and continues to avoid the red.
For the first few years the orchestra played four concerts each season, with two performances of each concert rotating among the Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass halls. Other schedules have been tried over the years in a quest for balance between audience needs and orchestra tolerance. Since 1983 the orchestra has done five concerts, three performances each, per season. A special event was added in 1987: the highly acclaimed Christmas Candlelight Concert. Saturday morning Discovery concerts were initiated in 1993.
The founder conducted the orchestra himself the first seven years, then appeared as guest violin soloist on occasion and was concertmaster from 1978 through the 1984 - 85 season and then served as artistic adviser during the conductor search in 1986. Professor Palmer retired from teaching music at SOSC and was active in Rogue Valley music circles for many years. He passed away in 2008.
Music Director Arthur Shaw had a 21-year tenure with the Rogue Valley Symphony. The outreach capabilities and performance versatility and quality of the RVSO greatly increased under his direction. He shaped the Candlelight Series and the Discovery concerts and saw the orchestra through their 40th Anniversary season.
After a yearlong music director search, with five conductor finalists leading the orchestra during the 2009-2010 season, the Rogue Valley Symphony and its search committee awarded the position of Music Director to Martin Majkut, who is just beginning his tenure with the RVS.
Conductors:
1967-1973 Frederick Palmer
1973-1975 Max McKee
1975-1979 Roger Dickey
1979-80 Frederick Palmer, Interim Conductor
1980-1986 Yair Strauss (also 2 Guest Conductors)
1986-1987 Conductor Search Year (F. Palmer and 4 Finalists)
1988-2009 Arthur Shaw
2009-2010 Conductor Search Year (5 Finalists)
2010-present Martin Majkut