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Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

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The SPCO Center, housing offices and rehearsal/performance space, is located on the third floor of the Hamm Building in St. Paul, MN.

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) is an American chamber orchestra based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Its principal concert venue is the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. In collaboration with five artistic partners, the orchestra's musicians present more than 130 concerts and educational programs each year in over 14 venues throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The SPCO is regularly heard on American Public Media's nationally syndicated radio programs "Performance Today" and SymphonyCast.

History

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Leopold Sipe was the SPCO's first music director, from 1959 to 1971. Dennis Russell Davies succeeded Sipe from 1972 to 1980. During Davies's tenure, the SPCO recorded Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring at Sound 80 studios, one of the earliest digital audio recordings to see commercial release.[1]

In 1995, during Hugh Wolff's tenure as music director (1992–2000), the SPCO began its CONNECT education program. It reaches 6,000 students annually in 16 Minneapolis and Saint Paul Public Schools.

The last music director of the SPCO was Andreas Delfs, from 2001 to 2004. Beginning with the 2004–05 season, the SPCO adopted a new artistic model that eliminated the position of music director and created positions for several "Artistic Partners", prominent established musicians. Under this model the SPCO musicians have a much higher degree of artistic control.

2012-2013 lockout

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In October 2012, after months of negotiations between musicians and management, the SPCO locked out its union musicians.[2] Six months later, musicians approved a three-year labor agreement that cut their pay by $15,000 per year, reduced the SPCO from 34 players to 28, and offered buyouts to musicians 55 years and older.[3]

Music directors

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Other musicians in leadership positions

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  • Stanisław Skrowaczewski (Interim Music Advisor, 1987–1988)
  • Hugh Wolff (Principal Conductor, 1988–1992)
  • Bobby McFerrin (Creative Chair, 1994–1999)
  • Kyu-Young Kim (Artistic Director, 2016–2024)

Artistic partners

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Awards and recognition

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References

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  1. ^ Kenney, pp. 58, 61.
  2. ^ Royce, Graydon (21 October 2012). "SPCO locks out union players, quieting 2nd orchestra". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  3. ^ Combs, Marianne (29 April 2013). "SPCO lockout comes to an end". Minnesota Public Radio News. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  4. ^ "The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra announces its 2023.24 season" (PDF) (Press release). Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  5. ^ a b "The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra announces its 2022.23 season" (PDF) (Press release). Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  6. ^ "Richard Goode to become SPCO's newest Artistic Partner" (PDF) (Press release). Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  7. ^ Kenney, pp. 58, 61.
  8. ^ "ASCAP "Adventurous Programming" Awards Presented at League of American Orchestras Conference in Minneapolis". 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  9. ^ "2013-2014 ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-11-19.

Citations

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  • Kenney, Dave. 50 Years of Music: The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Nodin Press, 2009.
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