When the Amateur Strand Symphony Orchestra formed in 1924, they rejected the name “Portland Symphony Orchestra” because they felt it was “too imposing.” But they’ve grown into that name.
When the Amateur Strand Symphony Orchestra formed in 1924, they rejected the name “Portland Symphony Orchestra” because they felt it was “too imposing for this tenuous new adventure.” Over the course of 90 years, the group has grown into that grander title, though their work remains just as adventurous.
On May 2, the Portland Symphony Orchestra will celebrate its 90th anniversary season at the Merrill Auditorium. It promises to be a nostalgic evening with each of the PSO’s living past conductors taking a turn at the podium.
But while the orchestra pauses to look back at where it came from, it is also aggressively planning for the next 90 years. “We are always in conversation about ways to keep the Portland Symphony Orchestra relevant,” says Robert Moody, the current music director. His strategy? Innovate, but don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Moody believes that for the PSO to succeed they must honor the masters of the past while also searching for the masters of tomorrow.
An average PSO performance will feature works by the likes of Bach, Beethoven, or Handel alongside pieces by some of the most promising contemporary composers. Moody has even gone so far as to commission new works for the PSO, such as Sabar, a concerto for African drum ensemble and symphony. “It’s fun to put together wildly diverse pieces,” Moody says. “People have broken away from the idea of being loyal to just one form of music.”
As for filling the seats, Moody says Portland’s art-savvy population provides “fertile soil for a symphony orchestra” and credits the city’s “fierce sense of pride and ownership” for the PSO’s continued success. Still, in today’s digital world, he sometimes has to proselytize about the value of attending a symphony in person. He tells people that each performance is a unique event. No two renditions of a piece of music are exactly the same; each has its own tenor and nuance. Even if the piece has been played a million times before, when you see it performed by 82 living, breathing musicians, you are witnessing the creation of a brand new piece of art.
And besides, Moody says, it just sounds better. “One can put in their home the most expensive, highest tech level entertainment system and take the most perfectly mastered CD and play it, and it will never, not even remotely, approximate the experience of live music.”
1924: Amateur Strand Symphony Orchestra: forerunner ensemble of PSO. Arthur Kendall, conductor. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSO1928: Raymond and Marice Wade, father and son members of the PSO. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSOc. 1930: Charles R. Cronham at the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ Console. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSO1939: Russell Ames Cook conducting PSO concert. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSOc. 1945: Portrait of Dr. Russell Ames Cook, PSO Concductor 1937-1951. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSO1961: Conductor Rouben Gregorian and his son, soloist Leon Gregorian, at rehersal. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSOc. 1970: Conductor Paul Vermel. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSOc. 1975: Arthur Fiedler conducting the PSO. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSO1982: The Magic of Christmas concert program cover. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSOc. 1985: Conductor Toshi Shimada and PSO violinists in concert. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSO1994: Low brass players Nicholas Orovich, Don Davis, Mark Rohr, and Donald Rankin. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSO2011: Current musical director Robert Moody at Merill Auditorium. Photo Credit: Courtesy of PSO
For more information visit www.portlandsymphony.org.
Justin Shatwell
Justin Shatwell is a longtime contributor to Yankee Magazine whose work explores the unique history, culture, and art that sets New England apart from the rest of the world. His article, The Memory Keeper (March/April 2011 issue), was named a finalist for profile of the year by the City and Regional Magazine Association.
I am pictured in the 11th photo in the slideshow. I wanted to point out that the caption is incorrect for this photo. It should read “Low brass” instead of “Lower bass”. Thank you.
For more information visit www.portlandsymphony.org. 
I am pictured in the 11th photo in the slideshow. I wanted to point out that the caption is incorrect for this photo. It should read “Low brass” instead of “Lower bass”. Thank you.