Founded in 1928, the Santa Rosa
Symphony ranks among the oldest symphony orchestras in the western
states. Conductors prior to Bruno Ferrandis were: Conductor Laureate,
Jeffrey Kahane, 1995-2006; Conductor Emeritus Corrick Brown, 1958-1995;
George Trombley, 1928-1958. The following time line commemorates
some of the more notable achievements and milestones of the Santa
Rosa Symphony.
1
9 2 8
The Santa Rosa Symphony plays its first concert
with 35 local musicians at the Elks Club. Initial
performances are so well received, that the fledgling
group moves to the 1000-seat Santa Rosa High School
auditorium. Founder George Trombley, “Mr.
T,” holds the post of conductor for the next
three decades. During his tenure at the podium, he
conducts 179 concerts and approximately 3,000 rehearsals.
1 9 4 6
Corrick Brown, a gifted 15-year old Santa Rosa pianist,
solos during one of the symphony’s programs.
Eight years later, as a recent graduate of Stanford
University, he returns to play a Schumann Concerto.
1 9 4 7
The Young People’s Concerts, a series of free
performances for school children, is instituted to
fulfill Conductor Trombley’s dream of exposing
regional youth to the world of classical music.
1 9 5 7
“Hometown boy” Corrick Brown is drafted
out of the Vienna Academy of Music to be Conductor
and Music Director of the Santa Rosa Symphony after
Trombley’s resignation.Under Maestro Brown’s artistic
and business leadership, the orchestra begins a new
phase of growth in stature, talent, size, and breadth
of repertoire.
1 9 5 8
Performance of the First Annual Independence Day Pops
Concert. Now entering its fifth decade, this outdoor
event at Sonoma State University continues to draw
audiences from all over the North Bay region.
1 9 5 8
A Symphony League is formed to provide volunteer support
and fund-raising. Today, this essential organization
numbers over 125 volunteers.
1 9 5 9
The Junior Symphony is formed by school music teacher
Eugene Shepherd. This youth ensemble later affiliates
with the Santa Rosa Symphony, yet remains under Shepherd’s
baton until 1994.
1 9 7 6
Music Academy is formed to provide year-round group
instruction on all stringed instruments for beginning
to advanced students.
1 9 7 9
Formation of the Youth Preparatory Orchestra by Jack
Murphy affords a first, full orchestra experience
for younger students, along with training for the
Junior Symphony.
1 9 8 2
A more than 1500-seat performance hall at the Luther
Burbank Center for the Arts becomes the new Symphony
concert venue. Within a decade, a burgeoning audience
requires three performances for each of seven regular
subscription programs to satisfy demand.
1 9 9 2
Virtuoso Jeffrey Kahane performs Beethoven’s
Piano Concerto No. 5 as a guest soloist under the direction
of Corrick Brown.
1 9 9 4
Two new Youth Ensembles are formed: Discovery Orchestra (intermediate) and Youth Wind Ensemble. The Junior
Symphony, a full ensemble for advanced students,
is renamed the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra.
1 9 9 5
Jeffrey Kahane succeeds Corrick Brown as conductor
and music director of the Santa Rosa Symphony. Maestro
Brown continues to serve as conductor laureate.
1 9 9 8
Debut concert of the Young People’s Chamber Orchestra,
a new strings-only ensemble for advanced students.
1 9 9 9
The SRS enters into a partnership with Sonoma State
University to build a world-class music hall on the
SSU campus.
2 0 0 0
The SRS plays two concerts in the inaugural season
of Festival on the Green and becomes the Festival’s
Orchestra-in-Residence.
2 0 0 2
Santa Rosa Symphony receives the American Symphony
Orchestra League’s MetLife Award for Excellence
in Community Engagement for a multi-disciplinary
collaboration with Santa Rosa High School over
an entire school year. Sir Michael Tippett’s
A Child of Our Time was the project and also the
work performed in sold-out concerts in April 2002.
2 0 0 4
Kathryn Gould through Meet the Composer, Inc. launches
the Magnum Opus Project which partners with the Santa
Rosa Symphony and the Marin and Oakland East Bay
symphonies to jointly commission, premiere and give
repeat performances of nine new orchestral works
over the course of multiple seasons.
2 0 0 4
The documentary film Child of Our Time by Tommie Dell
Smith has its premiere in September. To date, more
than 200 copies of the film on DVD and VHS have been
distributed to individuals, educational institutions
and symphony organizations across the United States.
2 0 0 5
Dr. Richard Loheyde is appointed SRS Youth Orchestra
conductor.
2 0 0 6
Construction begins on the Green Music Center main
concert hall.
2 0 0 6
Bruno Ferrandis succeeds Jeffrey Kahane as conductor
and music director of the Santa Rosa Symphony. Maestro
Kahane becomes conductor laureate and Maestro Corrick
Brown becomes conductor emeritus.
2 0 0 7
Bruno Ferrandis' first season of programming. Santa Rosa Symphony celebrates its 80th Anniversary with Ruby Jubilee gala and special opera arias concert to kick off the 2007-2008 season.
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