The Phoenix Symphony

The Phoenix Symphony
Orchestra
Short nameTPS
Founded1947 (1947)
LocationPhoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Concert hall
Phoenix Symphony Hall
Music director
Paolo Bortolameolli
Websitewww.phoenixsymphony.org

The Phoenix Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Phoenix, Arizona. With a season that "runs from October to May", it performs primarily at Phoenix Symphony Hall, and is the only full-time professional orchestra in the state of Arizona.

History

Founded in 1947, the orchestra began as an occasional group of amateur musicians performing four concerts each year, with John Manley Barnett as its first music director, from 1947 to 1948. In subsequent years, music faculty from Arizona State University joined the ensemble, which attained part-time status. During the music directorship of Theo Alcántara, from 1978 to 1988, the orchestra achieved full-time status in 1983.

Phoenix Symphony Hall, Copper Square, Phoenix, Arizona, in 2011

During the music directorship of James Sedares, from 1989 to 1995, the orchestra recorded commercially for KOCH International Classics. Hermann Michael was principal guest conductor and artistic adviser of the orchestra for two seasons, and then its music director from 1997 to 2004.

Michael Christie was music director of the orchestra from 2005 to 2013. In 2011, Jim Ward became president and chief executive officer of the orchestra, and negotiated financial restructuring to address fiscal deficits and financial challenges. With Christie, the orchestra recorded commercially for Naxos Records. Christie was subsequently music director laureate of the orchestra from 2013 to 2016.

In February 2014, the orchestra named Tito Muñoz as its 11th music director, after two guest-conducting appearances by Muñoz with the orchestra.

In January 2020, the orchestra announced the appointment of Suzanne Wilson as its next president and chief executive officer, effective 21 January 2020, in succession to Ward following his retirement from the post. In March 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting concert cancellations, the orchestra furloughed its musicians for the remainder of the 2019–2020 season, along with reductions in its administrative and artistic personnel, and salary reductions for remaining staff. In August 2020, the orchestra announced the cancellation of its 2020–2021 concert season, the first U.S. orchestra to cancel its planned 2020–2021 season in its entirety, again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The orchestra resumed performing for the 2021–2022 season.

Wilson stood down as the orchestra's president and chief executive officer in 2022. In January 2023, the orchestra announced the appointment of Peter Kjome as its next president and chief executive officer, effective 1 February 2023. Muñoz concluded his tenure as its music director at the close of the 2023–2024 season, and subsequently took the title of artistic partner for two seasons.

In October 2024, Paolo Bortolameolli first guest-conducted the orchestra. He returned to conduct the orchestra's opening concert of its 2025–2026 season. In March 2026, the orchestra announced the appointment of Bortolameolli as its next music director, effective with the 2027–2028 season. Bortolameolli is scheduled to take the title of music director-designate for the 2026–2027 season.

2026-2027 Season Suspension

On October 20, 2026 the Phoenix Symphony announced that it was suspending its 2026-2027 season, effective November 2, 2026 because of financial struggles. The symphony's board of directors canceled the season just weeks after its October 9th season opener, because it did not have the financial resources necessary to continue the season. One week before suspending its season, the symphony had to cancel a hip-hop concert "due to unforeseen circumstances." According to symphony President and CEO Peter Kjome, the symphony has faced financial challenges for many years. The symphony board's "objective" is to return the orchestra to performing once it has addressed its financial problems.

Music directors

References

  1. 1 2 "The Phoenix Symphony appoints Peter Kjome as President and CEO" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Michael Kiefer (June 5, 1997). "Is Anybody Listening?". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on October 23, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2020. Despite the competence of its musicians, the symphony has never been able to fill its hall and it has limped along financially, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy more than once.
  3. ↑ Chris Casacchia (September 11, 2005). "Symphony begins new chapter with much-improved bottom line". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Copland on CD: A Top 10". National Public Radio / NPR Music. November 8, 2004. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  5. ↑ Melinda Bargreen (September 2, 2005). "Conductor Hermann Michael, 1937-2005, cherished by local musicians". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  6. ↑ Angela Gonzales (February 21, 2014). "Phoenix Symphony taps Tito Muñoz to serve as music director". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  7. ↑ Brianna Bradley (October 20, 2017). "C-Suite: Phoenix Symphony CEO brings private sector management style to nonprofit world". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Outgoing Christie named 'laureate' of Phoenix Symphony". East Valley Tribune. February 21, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Internationally Acclaimed Conductor Tito Muñoz Takes the Baton as Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. February 21, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  10. ↑ Kerry Lengyel (February 21, 2014). "Phoenix symphony chooses new music director". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  11. ↑ Angela Gonzales (February 21, 2014). "Phoenix Symphony taps Tito Muñoz to serve as music director". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  12. ↑ "An important update about our 2019/20 Season and The Phoenix Symphony" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. March 27, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  13. ↑ "2020/21 Subscriptions" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. August 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Phoenix Symphony Music Director Tito Muñoz extends tenure to conclude in 2024 with triumphant tenth season - Tito Muñoz to Continue Relationship; Appointed Artistic Partner in 2024" (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. March 1, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  15. ↑ Geri Koeppel (March 10, 2026). "Phoenix Symphony's new music director brings a world of experience". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  16. ↑ "The Phoenix Symphony Names Paolo Bortolameolli as Next Virginia G. Piper Music Director" (PDF) (Press release). Phoenix Symphony. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Masley, Ed (October 20, 2026). "Phoenix Symphony Cancels 2026-2027 season due to financial issues". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ Lebrecht, Norman (October 21, 2026). "Just in: US Orchestra goes Bust". Slippedisc. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  19. ↑ Koch, Mitchell (October 20, 2026). "Phoenix Symphony to suspend season lay off musicians". AZFamily. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  20. ↑ Champion, Stacey (October 24, 2026). "phoenix symphony musicians ask board to open its books". musicians of the phoenix symphony. Retrieved October 25, 2026. The 66 musicians of The Phoenix Symphony learned on Tuesday, October 20 that they will be laid off on November 2. They found out while their representatives were sitting across the table from Symphony leadership, as a press release announcing the suspension of the season went out during that meeting. Musicians who were not in the room learned of it by email shortly afterward, and staff learned of it from the press release.
  21. ↑ Masley, Ed (October 27, 2026). "a gut punch phoenix symphony musicians left in lurch want answers". Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 27, 2026. We had a meeting scheduled with the board and management, and instead of a contract negotiation, they told us that they were planning to suspend the season," Pasker said. "And then the press release went out while they were actually still in what was supposed to be a contract negotiation meeting."
  22. ↑ Koeppel, Geri. "Questions remain in wake of Phoenix Symphony season suspension". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on October 23, 2026. Retrieved October 23, 2026. The Symphony hasn't yet answered several emailed questions about its financial struggles. These included what led to the issues, why it waited until the season started to make this move; why it hired a new music director, Paolo Bortolameolli, amid much fanfare last March; whether any employees other than CEO Peter Kjome will be paid during the suspension; or what, specifically, is being done to help the musicians and staff whose pay has been cut off. It announced on Oct. 14 that it had hired a new vice president of development, Naquana Borrero, to lead money-raising efforts. The release about the season's suspension didn't mention her.
  23. ↑ Masley, Ed (October 14, 2026). "Phoenix Symphony forced to cancel hip-hop concert. Here's what we know". Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 21, 2026.