The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington State's arts community for over four decades, providing symphony music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community.
Music Director and Conductor Salvador Brotons
“The whole show was like a lungful of clean mountain air.”
Founded in 1978, the VSO has always striven to bring world-class symphonic music to the Pacific Northwest. World renowned guests the orchestra has attracted to perform in its symphonic series include Gerard Schwarz, Zuill Bailey, Awadagin Pratt, Alexander Toradze, Anne Akiko Meyers, and others. For the last three decades, Maestro Salvador Brotons has led the orchestra as Conductor and Music Director. An accomplished conductor and prolific composer, Maestro Brotons has won several major composition awards including the Reina Sofia Composition Prize and the City of Barcelona award.
As the largest performing arts organization in Vancouver, WA, the symphony presents over forty events a year during a typical season. This includes seven pairs of classical symphonic performances, a chamber music series, and a free outdoor summer concert. In addition to providing performances with acclaimed guest artists, the VSO provides educational outreach to the Southwest Washington community. Annual educational concerts in school districts and senior care facilities are just one way the symphony honors its commitment to enriching the community of Southwest Washington. The VSO also hosts the annual Young Artist Concerto Competition, which now invites entries nationwide. This program provides scholarships to nine young musicians who show exceptional musical ability. Each of the three gold medal winners are also provided an engagement of two concerts as a soloist with the symphony.
In addition to the symphonic series as well as pops and chamber music performances, the VSO offers several highly anticipated and critically acclaimed special events. These events include the annual Evening of Jazz, featuring some of the world’s most prominent jazz musicians such as clarinet legend Ken Peplowski; pianists Shelly Berg, Ehud Aherie and Steven Feifke; vocalist Clairdee; and others. The VSO also presents the distinguished Speaker Series featuring such guests as Maestro Gerard Schwarz, cello virtuoso Julian Schwarz, trombone virtuoso David Rejano, Hollywood actor and star of The Walking Dead and The Wire Lawrence Gilliard Jr., and others. In 2017, in partnership with NPR and OPB, the VSO produced a critically acclaimed live taping of a nationally syndicated radio show: Philosophy Talk, featuring violin virtuoso Anne Akiko Meyers and All Classical Portland host Brandi Parisi.
The 2020-21 season brought significant change to the orchestra, as they, like all performing arts organizations, worked to overcome the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unwilling to concede to a complete shutdown, the VSO instead implemented a fully virtual concert season to great success. By inviting a number of incredible guest conductors and soloists and employing a team of technology experts, the VSO accomplished a year of high-caliber programming accessible all over the globe. In January 2021, they drew the attention of PBS NewsHour, who featured the orchestra’s tribute to victims of COVID-19 with Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings.
With a commitment to serving the underserved, the VSO stands as a testament to what can be achieved through the support of a passionate community. The VSO has a unique opportunity to further social change through community-building education programs. These cultural outreach initiatives are not simply a luxury but play a fundamental role in creating a thriving, diverse community.
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Photo Credit: Paul Quackenbush