History of the West Valley Symphony Association
On December 15, 1968 in the Town Hall South auditorium,
now called Mountain View Auditorium, in Sun City, residents gathered
for the first performance of the brand new Sun City Symphony Orchestra.
Nearly 1000 patrons, a capacity crowd, enjoyed the performance under its founder
and conductor, Jennings Butterfield. The performance consisted of musicians
from the Sun City Community, which was then just eight years old, along with
professional musicians from the Luke Air Force Base band, the Flagstaff Symphony
and the Phoenix Symphony. The 2010-11 Season marks the 42 year
anniversary of this cultural treasure.
Founder Jennings Butterfield passed away in 1982 and his wife, Lillian,
in 1990. But the legacy they helped to create lives on in the music
we hear today. Maestro Butterfield was succeeded by Dr. Bernard Goodman
for one season, followed by Dr. Eugene P. Lombardi, who conducted the orchestra
from 1983 to 1987. Maestro James Yestadt took the baton in 1988 and
directed the talents of the professional musicians from around the Valley
and the retired professionals from the Sun Cities until 2006. Under the direction
of Maestro Yestadt, in 2002 the West Valley Symphony received WESTMARC’s “Best
of the West” award.
Over the years, the orchestra changed its name and performance locations.
First the name was changed to the Sun Cities Symphony, to include Sun City
West. In 1997 the name was changed to the Symphony of the West Valley
to reflect a growing commitment to serve the growing Northwest Valley and
finally in 2004 to the West Valley Symphony. The symphony performances
moved from the original location of Town Hall auditorium to the Sundial Auditorium
when it opened in the 1970’s and to the Sundome (Maricopa County Events Center)
in Sun City West in 1980. In 2005 the Sundome was temporarily closed
and the Symphony held its 2005-06 season classical performances at Prince
of Peace Catholic Church in Sun City West.
A sampling of the internationally acclaimed artists who have appeared with
the Symphony includes: pianists Fabio Bidini, Jeffrey Swann, Lilya Zilberstein
and Jean-Phillipe Collard; violinists Elmar Oliveira, Corey Cerovsek, Stephanie
Chase, Xiang Gao and Eugene Fodor; cellist Zuill Bailey; classical guitarists
The Romeros and Mannuel Barrueco; flutist Eugenia Zukerman; singers Isola
Jones, Julie Newell and Andrea Matthews. Entertainers such as Steve
Allen, The Smothers Brothers, Bobby Vinton, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Monica Mancini
and Lou Rawls have also appeared with the Symphony.
In February 2006, after several years of declining revenue from ticket sales
and overall contributions, the symphony cancelled the two remaining Classical
concerts of the 2005-06 Season. The announcement was met with
great sadness on the part of the patrons, volunteers and musicians that had
devoted their energy and talents to the organization. The Trustees set
about trying to keep the organization’s framework intact with the hope that
future circumstances might make the orchestra’s performances possible again.
In December 2007, the Symphony announced a generous bequest from Mr. J.
E. Donald Hastie of Sun City. With this funding, the Symphony’s trustees
began plans to “re-invent” the orchestra and begin performing live music
again. After a two year hiatus, two concerts were performed in February
and April 2008. Because those two concerts, conducted by Maestro Warren
Cohen of Scottsdale, were greeted by such an enthusiastic audience the Board
of Trustees immediately began to plan future seasons.
In November of 2008, the Symphony kicked off a four concert 2008-09 Concert
Season with programs conducted by Maestros Cohen and Cal Stewart Kellogg.
Each led the orchestra for two performances that once again were very well
received by local patrons. In April 2009, Maestro Kellogg was named Music
Director/Conductor for the 2009-2010 Concert Season.
With the continuing support of individuals and businesses in the community,
the Symphony plans to continue performing well into the future. |
|
About Us
Performing
in Northwest Valley venues, the West Valley Symphony's professional
musicians are led by Maestro Cal Stewart Kellogg. Each
season’s programming is carefully chosen to engage the audience
with inspiring works from the world’s master
composers.
The 2010-11 Season
is comprised of a four-concert subscription series, a Springtime in
Paris Benefit event and a one-of-a-kind concert featuring Mike Crotty
and Deater O’Neill in Growing Up With
Television.
Join us as we embark on our 42nd year of providing exceptional music!
Board of Trustees
Barbara Lashmet, President
Sun City West
Leslie Fountain, Vice-President/President-Elect
Peoria
Mary Dehn Van Dessel, Treasurer
Sun City West
Carol Sailer, Secretary
Sun City West
Geraldine (Gerry) Benz
Sun City West
Louisa Kellam
Sun City West
Catherine Leas
Sun City
Mona Myhre
Sun City West
Ed Williamson
Sun City West
|
