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 About Us
The
Town & Country Symphony Orchestra enjoys serving the St. Louis
area through its musical concerts. The Orchestra performs in a variety
of community locations including area churches, plazas and malls,
retirement centers and parks. The Orchestra also performs in a variety
of musical styles -- classical, Christmas pops, operettas, and oratorios.
Mission
To support, contribute to, promote and advance the performing arts
through a community orchestra whose members are without compensation
or material return of any kind; to promote and advance the musical
abilities of the group through practice and performance; and to
arrange for and give concerts and musical programs designed for
the musical and cultural development and advancement of the members
of the community.
History
In 1953 two individuals
shared a special dream. That dream was to provide a musical outlet
for former music students to continue to play in an orchestral setting
even though they were already out of school or college. This dream
resulted in the creation of the Maplewood Richmond Heights Orchestra.
These two remarkable
individuals were Paul Koenig and Edith Hougland. Mr. Koenig was
the former Chairman of the Music Department of the Maplewood-Richmond
Heights School District and Director of Music and Information Systems
at Riverview Gardens. Mrs. Hougland served as the former Concertmistress of the Orchestra and was a former Manager of the St.
Louis Youth Symphony.
The orchestra
remained in Maplewood/Richmond Heights for many years. Finally,
the school district could no longer provide rehearsal or performance
facilities for the orchestra. At this time the City of Brentwood
offered these essential locations to the orchestra and the group
moved there and became known as the Brentwood Symphony Orchestra.
The orchestra rehearsed in the band room at Brentwood High School
and used the high school's auditorium for the majority of their
concerts. The Brentwood Symphony also performed at city functions,
at nursing homes in the St. Louis area, and at area churches.
In July, 1987 a small group from the Brentwood Symphony Orchestra,
known as the Brentwood Chamber Orchestra, combined with the Anheuser-Busch
Chorale on a concert tour of England and France. The orchestra members
began the tour in Bristol, England with a special concert for a
local church that needed a new roof. The successful concert resulted
in a large amount of money being raised for the church. The orchestra
then headed for France where they met the Anheuser-Busch Chorale
and performed three concerts. In St. Malo the orchestra was honored
by the Mayor of the city with a special champagne reception and
a special proclamation in our honor. The orchestra's third concert
of the tour was in the beautiful Cathedral at Chartres where a truly
special concert was presented to the residents of that historic
city. The fourth concert of the tour was given at the Royal Chapel
at the Palace of Versailles. This beautiful chapel had recently
reopened and the Brentwood Symphony and the Anheuser-Busch Chorale
were honored to present one of the first concerts given at this
special place after the reopening. The fifth and final concert was
back in London, England at the Barbican. This concert tour has been
a highlight in the lives of those orchestra members who were privileged
to experience it.
Then, in June
1994 the Brentwood Symphony was selected by the Mayor of Paris to
represent Missouri celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the Normandy
Landings. The governor of Missouri proclaimed the Brentwood Symphony
Orchestra as the official Missouri representative to the Allied
Musical Salute to the Liberation of France. This time the full Brentwood
Symphony was honored to tour France, Germany and Austria.
The orchestra
performed its first three concerts on the tour at the Palace at
Fontainebleau in the Cour Ovale, at the Peace Memorial in Caen,
and at a wreath-laying ceremony at the American Cemetery at Omaha
Beach. Our fourth concert was at Blois Castle in the Loire Valley
and our fifth concert was in the Municipal Park in Salzburg, Austria
near Mozart's birthplace.
In 1998 the
facilities at Brentwood High School became irregularly available
because of the exciting expansion of their Arts and Theater programs.
About this same time, the City of Town & Country invited the
Brentwood Symphony Orchestra to move to Town & Country and,
thus, the Town & Country Symphony began.
The tenure of
the orchestra in Town & Country began in May, 1998 with our
first concert at the Ridgway Auditorium at The Principia, 13201
Clayton Road. The orchestra's relationship with The Principia has
been one of great pleasure for the orchestra and, it is believed,
reciprocated by the school.
The Town &
Country Symphony Orchestra has performed at many different venues
in Town & Country and in the St. Louis area since 1998. The
symphony helped the city celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 1999.
The orchestra has participated in the KFUO Classic 99 promotion
"Classics Go Wild" at the St. Louis Zoo in 2000 and 2001.
In August 2000 the orchestra played for an alumni reunion for The
Principia. In 2002 the orchestra played in the KFUO "Classics
in Bloom" at the Missouri Botanical Garden and for the 125th
Anniversary of the Delmar Baptist Church. In 2003 the orchestra
played at the Town & Country Safety Fair. In October 2003 the
orchestra dedicated a concert to the City of Town & Country
to express its appreciation at being a member of the community.
In addition
to the formal concerts presented by the Town & Country Symphony
Orchestra and the Town & Country Smyphony Chamber Orchestra, smaller groups of musicians perform special concerts
in the community. The Strings Ensemble, the Brass Choir, and the
Woodwind Ensemble are privileged to perform for the residents of
the nursing homes in Town & Country during the summer. The Strings
Ensemble has performed several concerts as a result of special
requests. The Brass Choir has performed at several city picnics
and other special occasions.
The orchestra
presents a light classical concert each year which may also include
many Pops compositions. In December the symphony presents its annual
Holiday concert. Throughout the concert season we feature many extremely
talented solists. Some soloists who have performed with the Town &
Country Symphony are members of the orchestra, some are members
of the Saint Louis Symphony, and others have come from St. Louis and other parts
of the country. We have featured many extremely talented young musicians
in the Saint Louis area and will do so again this concert season.
During the 2007-2008 concert season we are excited to be performing in two new beautiful venues along with our performances in the Ridgway Auditorium on the campus of The Principia. We have enjoyed the hospitality of the Purser Center at Logan University and at Missouri Baptist University in their beautiful auditorium. We also appreciate performing in the beautiful chapel at Parkway United Church of Christ. We extend a heartfelt thank you to each of these organizations for their assistance and hospitality.
We look
forward to each concert and are thrilled to be able to play
in these beautiful auditoriums on these beautiful campuses. We love what we
do and are extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue to
play our instruments in a group setting. We hope that you will enjoy
our music and will want to join us at all our concerts. We look
forward to seeing you.
Updated:
February 29, 2008
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