The Windsor Symphony Orchestra is this year’s recipient of the Vida Peene Fund – 2007 Orchestra Award.
The award, which carries a $10,000 prize, will be presented at the opening classics concert of the Windsor Symphony’s 60th Anniversary Season, Saturday, October 13 at 8 p.m. at the Chrysler Theatre by David Parsons, the Ontario Arts Council’s Classical Music Officer.
The program jurors were unanimous in their selection of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra as this year’s recipient of the Vida Peene Fund – 2007 Orchestra Award, pointing to the Symphony’s “amazing and multi-faceted education and outreach activities” that include bilingual school resources, well-conceived thematic series and numerous local partnerships. Their annual Windsor Canadian Music Festival demonstrates the orchestra’s strong commitment to supporting new work.
“All this activity generates excitement,” added the jurors, “providing motivation and direction to the organization for even higher achievement in services to its community.”
The Windsor Symphony Orchestra, now in its 60th season, performs a variety of concert series (Classics, Pops, Bach & Beyond, Mozart & More, Peanut Butter & Jam), and hosts the annual Windsor Canadian Music Festival.
The jury for this year’s award included: Jeremy Bell, musician, Kitchener; Debra Chandler, arts administrator, Toronto; Gordon Galloway, board member, chartered accountant, Toronto; Elaine Keillor, musician, musicologist, educator, Ottawa; Claude Lapalme, conductor, music director, Red Deer.
The late Vida Peene was a Hamilton-based arts patron who wanted her bequest to support Ontario orchestras as well as painting acquisitions at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Vida Peene’s original bequest was made to the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Ontario Arts Council is one of eight specified organizations that receive income through investment earnings.
Income from The Vida Peene Fund is given every two years to an Ontario orchestra other than the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (the TSO having been provided for separately through Vida Peene’s estate). Past recipients include the Esprit Orchestra (2005) and the Orchestra Canada Youth Orchestra Festival (2003, 2001, 1999, 1997).
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