ABOUT QUINTE SYMPHONY
Founded in 1960 as the Eastern Ontario Concert Orchestra by Stephen Choma in conjunction with local businessman Thomas Bata, Quinte Symphony has become one of Quinte's most significant and highly acclaimed performing arts organizations. For almost sixty years the symphony has been performing live orchestral music in the Quinte region with world-class performers such as the Sultans of String, Eduard Minevich and Anton Kuerti. The symphony has also featured home-grown talent such as soprano Elizabeth McDonald, the Belleville Choral Society, Donna Bennett, and Steven Belanger to name a few.
EARLY YEARS
In the early years, the orchestra travelled to different communities in the surrounding area but for the last two decades the concerts have been mostly in Belleville. The symphony has performed at venues that include the Robert Horwood Auditorium at Centennial Secondary School, Belleville Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Eastminster United Church and the historic Bridge Street Church. With the start of the 2003-2004 season, the symphony moved to Front Street at the newly-opened Empire Theatre. After three seasons, Quinte Symphony returned to their former home at the acoustically renowned Bridge Street Church in Belleville.
Throughout its history, former conductors, including internationally renowned conductors Kerry Stratton and Clifford Crawley, have influenced the development and growth of the orchestra to its present tradition of a 4-concert MasterWorks Series of standard orchestral repertoire with an outstanding soloists. For many years a Pops concert, showcasing music that can entertain an entirely new audience, was also incorporated into the season.
A COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT
Quinte's cultural treasure, Quinte Symphony, encourages a sense of ownership in the community. To have a symphony orchestra in a community the size of Belleville is a remarkable achievement. Quinte Symphony's long life is ensured by the dedication of passionate musicians and volunteers who provide leadership on the Board of Directors, by motivated and enthusiastic volunteers who work on committees and by generous corporate sponsorships and private donations.
"Music making in smaller centres is the backbone of our orchestral culture. My earliest experiences of an orchestra were as a boy in the audience of The Quinte Symphony and later as a member of the orchestra (The Eastern Ontario Concert Orchestra). Every piece they played was my favourite and the annual concert at BCI auditorium was always over far too quickly to suit me. I can tell you that I actually dreamed of conducting it in those days and I got my wish. I can only express my inadequate gratitude and affection to those wonderful musicians of my youth." - Kerry Stratton, Internationally renowned Canadian conductor
MISSION
Quinte Symphony is committed to enriching the culture of the Quinte region through presentation of classical and Canadian orchestral music. Quinte Symphony also actively promotes and encourages the musical development of youth through our educational and community outreach initiatives.
FOUNDING DATE
Established as the Eastern Ontario Concert Orchestra in 1960. Date of Provincial Incorporation, Jan 31, 1977. Our name was officially changed to Quinte Symphony, February 1, 2000.
SOCIAL MEDIA ▸
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023-2024
Nancy Lewis, President
Ian Szeto, Treasurer
Joanne Percy, Secretary
John Baltutis, Director
Kimber Pritty, Director
Herman Li, Director
HONORARY PATRONS
The Hon. Lyle & Sharon Vanclief
The Rev. Harold & Olive Wilson
Jack & Nancy Evans
