Introducing the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra has established a unique artistic profile and civic stature in southeastern North Carolina. What distinguishes the Wilmington Symphony is its distinct identity as a local cultural arts group that showcases local talent. The WSO’s 38-year tradition of service enhances the quality of life in the Cape Fear Region starting with great music-making showcasing the considerable talents of our area’s own musicians, and extending through a host of vibrant and vital educational programs for all ages. The musicians are local instrumentalists, and gifted students and faculty, selected each year by audition. Now beginning his 22nd year as conductor of the Wilmington Symphony, Dr. Steven Errante is also Professor of Music at University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

In addition to a series of concerts for its audience, the Wilmington Symphony provides both performance opportunities and an array of unique educational programs for Wilmington and Cape Fear Region residents that includes the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra, a Free Family Concert, the annual Richard R. Deas Student Concerto Competition, Artist-in-Residence Programs in area schools, and the Wilmington Symphony Birthday Club for young children.”

Symphony's Impact on the Cape Fear Region

A symphony orchestra is a sign of a mature, forward-thinking and comprehensive community. A local symphony helps improve the quality of life and attractiveness of a community, and a community with the widest variety of cultural amenities has the edge in attracting and retaining businesses, in enhancing images and community relations, in attracting top notch employees and their families, in drawing tourists and conventions, and in creating markets for new business.

The Wilmington Symphony has grown into a multi-faceted asset for Wilmington and the Cape Fear Region providing value in cultural arts and entertainment, music education, economic development, identity and image, pride and prestige. The Wilmington Symphony is local art that creates community connection, aids in economic development, strengthens our region's shared identity and adds significantly to the quality of life in southeastern North Carolina.

The Wilmington Symphony's concerts provide a gathering point of community pride for residents to be involved, engaged and connected with one of our region’s distinctive local cultural treasurers. Educational initiatives contribute to the life-long learning opportunities available to residents, especially for area youth.

Current Season

Our Wilmington Symphony Orchestra offers an exciting and engaging season of symphonic masterworks from three centuries. The creative sparks begin to fly immediately with the opening concert’s performances of two of the most popular symphonies of all-time, as the Wilmington Symphony reaches the midpoint in a five-year Beethoven Symphony cycle.

Next in the season we travel back in time for some earlier masterpieces for symphony orchestra by Telemann, Purcell and Handel including selections from Messiah as part of the Holiday Concert and Holiday Family Matinee. February’s Classics and Pops concert spotlights two promising young local artists of today--winners of the annual Richard R. Deas Student Concerto Competition--and also salutes modern classic film music composer John Williams with “Music from the Movies.

In April we are pleased to welcome Gareth Johnson, First Place Junior Division Laureate of the 2002 national Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players. He is our 2009 Artist-in-Residence performing in local schools and after-school programs in the week leading up to his anticipated featured performance of Brahms’ beloved Violin Concerto in D. Despite his young age of 22, Mr. Johnson already enjoys a remarkably successful performing career having appeared as a soloist with the Detroit, Atlanta, Seattle, St. Louis, Cincinnati, New World and Baltimore Symphonies, and the Boston Pops, among many others.

A special “Patriotic Pops Concert-A Salute to Veterans” on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11th at 7:30 p.m. presented in Trask Coliseum on the UNCW campus, an evening of Opera on March 21st and a Free Family Concert Matinee on April 26th are other milestones in a terrific 2008-2009 concert season.

Organization of the Orchestra

The orchestra was founded in 1971 as the UNCW/Community Orchestra. From its inception, the orchestra has received in-kind support from the university. The founding conductor, William F. Adcock, and all succeeding conductors have been members of the university music faculty. UNCW also provides rehearsal, music library, and performance space. Qualified university students receive academic credit for their participation in the orchestra. Musicians are selected each year by audition.

The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, Inc. is a non-profit corporation, organized in the State of North Carolina, with federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. The corporation is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Directors comprised of members of the community dedicated to the mission of the orchestra and includes representatives of the playing musicians along with liaison to the university. The Board is responsible for establishing policies, including the approval of the annual operating budget. A full-time Executive Director is employed by the Board of Directors to oversee and manage the daily operations, business affairs, and resource development.

The orchestra is a member of the League of Symphony Orchestras.