About the DSO

12/23/09

About the Orchestra....

"The purpose of the DuPage Symphony Orchestra is to maintain a symphony orchestra in DuPage County, Illinois; to foster and encourage the production of music; to give musical performances; to foster and develop musical talent in the county; to educate the public in symphonic literature, and to encourage attendance at symphonic concerts."

That is the foundation of the DuPage Symphony Orchestra as set out in its original Constitution that was adopted in January, 1956, when the orchestra was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. The DSO had been established as an all-volunteer ensemble and performed its first concert in December of 1954, but it was not until a year later that the organization's reason for being was given this specific expression.

Now, five decades later, in the fifty-sixth season of the orchestra's service to DuPage County, it remains true to its purpose.

Our five "Es":

	Excellence - Making it the standard for every performance.
	Exposure - Treating our audiences to fine soloists from Chicago and the world.
	Education - Stretching beyond the familiar, offering something to learn from, something to delight in.
	Encouragement - Giving opportunities to young musicians through concerts, competitions, and instrument collections just for them.
	Enrichment - Sharing in the beauty of classical music, for your enjoyment , as well as ours.

From its beginnings in 1954, the orchestra consisted of fewer than fifty musicians under the direction of its founder Russell Harvey. The orchestra's performances took it to various high school and college auditoriums, country clubs, civic buildings, and other locations throughout the county. In these early years, the orchestra became a polished performing ensemble playing a repertoire of predominantly shorter works, including a substantial representation from such early classical masters such as Bach, Haydn, Purcell, Mozart in addition to Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn.

Today's DSO, under the baton of its second music director, Barbara Schubert, is somewhat less itinerant these days. Up until the close of the 2007-2008 concert season, it has performed primarily at Pfeiffer Hall on the campus of North Central College in Naperville. As of the beginning of the 2008 -2009 concert season, the orchestra moved its main season concerts to the stage of North Central College's brand new Wentz Concert Hall. Audiences these days generally hear longer works, full symphonies and suites, and more names such as Bernstein, Debussy , Elgar and Respighi. The style is different, but the soul is the same. The orchestra has grown up, but not grown old.

In 2007, the orchestra was honored by the Illinois Council of Orchestras as the 2007 Illinois Community Orchestra of the Year.

This site was last updated 12/23/09