The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is a professional orchestra in Knoxville, Tennessee. The KSO was selected among a competitive pool of orchestras in 2020 to perform at the Kennedy Center as part of the SHIFT Festival of American Orchestras.Kylie Hubbard, Knoxville News Sentinel
The orchestra was established in 1935 and is the second oldest continuing orchestra in the southeastern United States, behind the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.Roy C. Brewer, Symphony Orchestras, Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, December 25, 2009; last updated February 28, 2011; accessed June 28, 2011 The founding conductor was Bertha Walburn Clark, who led the group until 1946. Other former conductors were Lamar Stringfield (1946-1947 season), David Van Vactor (1947 to 1972), Arpad Joó (1973–1978), Zoltán Rozsnyai (1978–1985), Kirk Trevor (1985–2003), and Lucas Richman (2003–2015). The KSO has been led by Music Director Aram Demirjian since 2016.
Underneath the KSO umbrella, a highly successful youth orchestra was established in 1975, known as the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra (KSYO). They are currently conducted by James Fellenbaum, who also serves as the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's resident conductor.
The orchestra attracts internationally renowned soloists and conductors each year, such as Midori, Stefan Jackiw, Cho-Liang Lin, Frank Sinatra Jr., and others.Kirk Trevor, https://knoxvillesymphony.com/about-kso/history-mission/kirk-trevor/
See also Knoxville Opera
References
External links Knoxville Symphony Orchestra official site