The Venice Symphony

About The Venice Symphony The Venice Symphony is a distinguished musical institution based in Venice, Florida, dedicated to inspiring and transforming lives through exceptional musical experiences. With a mission to unite communities through music, the Symphony has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of the area since its inception. **History** The Venice Symphony was founded in November 1974, when a group of 56 volunteer musicians, led by Hartley Haines, the director of music in the public schools, came together to form an orchestra. The early concerts were held in the Venice High School auditorium, with local banks and subscribers covering the costs. As the Symphony grew and began compensating its musicians, ticket sales became necessary to support its operations. After Haines left in 1983, Ernesto Epistola took up the conductor's baton, followed by Wesley John Schumacher in 1989. Schumacher, alongside Eric Watters, initiated the "Symphony in the Schools" program, which educates third graders about orchestral instruments. This program culminates in a concert at The Venice Performing Arts Center, allowing students to experience a live orchestral performance. In 1990, The Venice Symphony introduced its Summer Music Camp, which teaches music fundamentals to students, providing hands-on experience with musical instruments. That same year, the Symphony moved its concerts to the Church of the Nazarene in Venice, and Jean Peters was appointed as Executive Director, a position she held until her retirement in 2012. The Symphony continued to evolve with Kenneth Bowermeister serving as Music Director/Conductor after Schumacher's retirement in 2009. In 2014, the Symphony found a new home for its concerts at the Venice Performing Arts Center. Following Bowermeister's retirement in 2016, Imre Palló served as Interim Music Director during the search for a new Music Director. Christine Kasten was named Executive Director in 2016, the same year the Symphony introduced the Pre-Concert Talk Series. After a nationwide search involving seven conductors for the 2017-18 season, Troy Quinn was appointed as the Music Director of The Venice Symphony. Under his leadership, the Symphony has continued to expand its reach, including a successful Patriotic Pops concert in partnership with the Atlanta Braves Spring Training in 2019. **Community Engagement and Education** The Venice Symphony is committed to community engagement and education, sponsoring annual food and toiletries drives for local charities and collaborating with various cultural and educational organizations. The Symphony's educational initiatives, including the Venice Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Summer Music Camp, reflect its dedication to fostering musical appreciation and talent in younger generations. **Recent Developments** Despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the cancellation of the 2020-21 season, the Symphony pivoted to offering a series of free virtual concerts. The 2021-22 season saw nearly sold-out concerts, featuring guest artists like Linda Eder, Fabiola Kim, and Eric Rigler. As the Symphony looks to the future, it continues to plan for growth and enrichment of its cultural offerings. With a diverse range of events such as "The Crown Jewel Finale" and the "America’s Heroes Patriotic Pops Concert," The Venice Symphony remains a beacon of musical excellence and community unity in Venice, Florida. The Venice Symphony, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer, promoting a diverse workplace and cultural diversity in all its activities. It affirms its commitment to equality and inclusivity, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, disability, marital status, sexual preference, age, gender, or national origin. **Contact Information** - Telephone: 941.207.8822 - Email: [email address not provided in the text] - Address: [physical address not provided in the text] - Website: [website URL not provided in the text]