Vancouver, BC, Canada (November 30, 2018) – Yesterday, at the Annual General Meeting of the Vancouver Symphony Society, the Board of Directors announced a balanced budget for the 2017/2018 fiscal year. This is the Symphony’s sixth consecutive balanced budget.
“As we celebrate our 100th Anniversary Season, I am pleased that we continue to build and operate a strong and vibrant performing arts organization – expanding our programming and increasing our audiences while continuing to steward a sustainable business model,” said Fred Withers, Chair of the Board at the Vancouver Symphony Society. “For the sixth straight year and 14th in the past 15 years we successfully concluded our 2017/18 Season with a small surplus on financial results,” reported Withers.
President Kelly Tweeddale highlighted the role of women in VSO’s first century and Music Director Otto Tausk shared his hopes for music in Vancouver: “It is my hope that the music we make will help us to make connections within ourselves as well as with each other.”
The AGM was well attended by the board of directors, VSO staff members, volunteers and orchestra members of past and present. An alumni reception rounded out the celebratory event, followed by the official launch and book signing of the VSO’s commemorative book, entitled ‘VSO 100: A Century of Memorable Moments’, authored by David Gordon Duke.
A Century of Memorable Moments
Published by the Vancouver Symphony Society, under the direction of the VSO 100th Anniversary Planning Committee, with the support of archivist Andréa Tarnawsky, VSO staff members, and musician alumni, “the book celebrates the hard work of musicians, conductors, soloists, administrators, board members, and volunteers who, with the support of individuals, corporations and governments, have helped build the social and cultural fabric of our community for 100 years,” said Fred Withers, Chair of the Board, Vancouver Symphony Society.
“This book is an amalgamation of oral history, historical press, and little-known perspectives that have been at the heart of the orchestra for many decades,” said Arthur H. Willms, Chair of the VSO 100th Anniversary Planning Committee. “The exceptional musicianship that our loyal VSO audiences enjoy today is a direct result of all the amazing music directors, players, managers, and volunteers that came before us. The VSO was a great orchestra when I joined 43 years ago, and it has become greater every year since,” said Roger Cole, Principal Oboe for the VSO.
Months of collaboration resulted in a beautifully published, coffee table-style book consisting of 100 carefully curated moments of VSO history in vignettes that capture the rich history, traditions, and little-known perspectives of the orchestra.
“What you have before you…is a glorified family album — lots of wonderful images from the orchestra (and our astonishingly young city) with some running commentary. Like sharing family photos, it’s designed to spark memory, discovery, conversation, even a bit of controversy,” said Duke, who has grown up with this orchestra and spent decades writing reviews of the VSO.
The book, priced at $40, is available for purchase at the VSO Gift Shop at the Orpheum Theatre. Media copies are available upon request.
About the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1919, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada’s most active and successful performing arts institutions; the largest performing arts organization west of Ontario and the third largest symphony orchestra in the country.
The VSO performs to an annual audience of over 250,000 people and features more than 50 celebrated guest artists each season. Over 170 concerts are performed annually by the VSO in the historic Orpheum Theatre and numerous additional venues throughout the Lower Mainland. 2018/2019 marks the organization’s 100th season.
Media Contact
Sarah Yu, Publicist
(778) 239-7676 | sarahyu@vancouversymphony.ca
