Westfield Symphony Orchestra

The mission of the Westfield Symphony Orchestra is to promote the world’s legacy of classical, symphonic, and operatic music to Westfield, Union County and New Jersey residents through a diversity of professional musical experiences, including performance, education and mentoring.

Description:
Under the leadership of Music Director David Wroe, the WSO is viewed as one of the cultural jewels of the metropolitan area and is recognized by the NJ State Council on the Arts as a “Distinguished Arts Organization”. The WSO, the Resident Orchestra of Union County and of the Union County Arts Center, performs a five-concert series each year as well as a renowned New Year's Eve Broadway show featuring star vocalists direct from the Broadway Stage. WSO also performs annually at the PNC Arts center in Homdel.

History:
The Symphony was founded in 1983 by a group of Westfield citizens who believed that the expression of history and culture through the performance of symphonic music adds value to the quality of community life.

During its history, the Westfield Symphony has three times appeared at Carnegie Hall, accompanied such renowned artists as Leon Fleisher, Earl Wild, Shlomo Mintz, and Eugene Istomin and presented 15 premieres of contemporary music as well as performances of pillars of the symphonic repertoire. Critics and audiences have repeatedly hailed the orchestra’s opera-in-concert performances and the WSO’s innovative education programs have become models in the state and have been featured on New Jersey Network’s “State of the Arts” program.

The Westfield Symphony Orchestra has demonstrated a dedication to composers and to new music throughout its history. During the 25 years of its existence, the Symphony has presented 15 world and United States premieres. Current Music Director David Wroe has heightened this commitment by emphasizing the importance of involving composers in new music activities.

In addition to a five-concert subscription season and its popular community concerts for New Year’s Eve, the WSO has sponsorsed educational programs for lower-, middle-, and high-school students throughout Union County. Other outreach programs have included pre-concert lectures and collaborations with the PNC Arts Center, New Jersey Music Teachers’ Association, North Jersey Bach Festival, Youth and Family Counseling Service, Umoja Dance Group, Arbor Chamber Music Society, Princeton Pro Musica, Kean University, Montclair State University, Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, Westfield High School, Westfield School of Dance and Westfield Young Artists Cooperative Theatre.

Contact people:

Linda Doyle, Executive Director, (email) Barbara Timko, Operations Manager, (email)

Office fax number: (908) 232-2446

Address:

224 East Broad St Westfield, NJ 07090 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.westfieldsymphony.org

Directions:

Exit 135 off Garden State Parkway. Follow Central Ave into town center. Office located above Baby Gap in downtown Westfield NJ.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: n/a   Nearest Bus Stop: n/a, n/a minute walk

Last updated on May 11, 2009