The Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra (MVSO) was founded in the summer of 1989 by Pat Carson and the late Keith Prentice, co-founders of Theatre Under the Stars. They hoped to create an organization where musicians of high caliber, including many already involved with TUTS productions, could showcase their talents. Keith and Pat believed that such a project would enhance the community by offering a high quality orchestra at an affordable price.

Auditions were held by conductor Ron Kindel in September and October of 1989. A mixture of professional, semi-professional, and non-professional musicians from the community were selected, and rehearsals began in October. The debut performance was a holiday concert held on December 9, 1989, at the Clark Haines Theatre in Kettering. (Details Listed Below)

From the 1990 to 1999, the orchestra was under the highly qualified and talented baton of Maestro Charles Wendelken-Wilson, former director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and current program manager for WDPR/WDPG radio. Mr. Wendelken-Wilson’s tenure as artistic director of the MVSO enhanced both the orchestra’s performance level and its repertoire.

In 1999 the baton was handed to Dr. Thomas Kennedy, Jr., Associate Professor of Music at Wittenberg University in Springfield. Dr. Kennedy had been associated with the MVSO since 1996 as conductor and performer. In December of 2005, Dr. Kennedy was unable to continue his duties with the MVSO due to ill health and the Board of Trustees began a search for a new conductor. Plans were laid to have an entire season of guest conductors with the goal of selecting a successor to Dr. Kennedy.

In the Spring of 2005, conductors from in and around the Miami Valley were contacted and Karen Gorden, Randall S. Paul, and Alejandro Rivas were offered the position of Guest Conductor for the October, February, and April concerts respectively. The Holiday regular subscription concert was cancelled as the MVSO was engaged to provide the music for the Ohio Performing Arts Council's December 2005 production of The Nutcracker, with Ian Polster conducting. In June, 2006, Randall S. Paul accepted the position of Conductor of the MVSO for the 2006-2007 season. The 2007-2008 season again welcomes three guest conductors, James Johnston in a return to the MVSO podium and Dr. Kenneth Kohlenberg and Dr. Jiang Liu making their debut performances.

Now in its 19th year, the orchestra’s repertoire includes standard symphonic literature, light classical works, contemporary pieces, and pop music. Members of the orchestra have the opportunity to perform in smaller ensembles and chamber groups, as well. In addition to its regular subscription series and TUTS productions, the MVSO has collaborated with Dayton Opera Funatics in seven productions since 1993, performed Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” with the Gem City Ballet during three holiday seasons, with the Ohio Performing Arts Institute in 2005 and 2006, and has twice provided live film score music for screenings at the Neon Movies. They have also performed summer concerts at various venues, including the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Stubbs Park in Centerville, Dayton Public Radio’s (WDPR) annual “Fal-de-Ral” fundraiser, Springfield’s Veterans Memorial Park, the City of Centerville’s 4rh of July celebration, and the New Bremen, Ohio, Summer Arts Series.

Currently, performances are held at Epiphany Lutheran Church and The Shiloh Church. For information on concert dates, season ticket sales, visit the appropriate pages of this web site. For information on becoming a member of the orchestra or orchestra sponsorships.

PREMIERE PERFORMANCE — December 9, 1989 in the Clark Haines Theater

There were 55 players in the orchestra:  17 violins, 4 violas, 6 cellos, 2 basses, 2 harps, 3 flutes/piccolo, 3 oboe/English horn, 3 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 1 alto saxophone, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, and 2 percussion/timpani.

The program for the premiere performance:

Christmas Festival		Leroy Anderson
Fantasia on Greensleeves		R. Vaughn Williams
Suite: The Christmas Tree (5 Mvmnts)		Vladimir Rebikoff
The Sleigh Ride		Leopold Mozart
	MVSO
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing		arr. by Arthur Harris
And the Glory of the Lord
For Unto Us a Child is Born from Messiah		G.F. Handel
	MVSO & MVC
Do You Hear What I Hear		arr. by Douglas E. Wagner
Away in a Manger		arr. by Douglas E. Wagner
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers		arr. by Martha Lynn Thompson
	MV Handbells
Allegro		Robert Beadell
Carol of the Bells		arr. by Timothy Olt
	MVSO Brass & Percussion
Angels We Have Heard on High		arr. by Arthur Harris
We Wish You a Merry Christmas		arr. by Arthur Harris

Of the original performers, 12 are still active (Sept. 2007)

Current Member

1989 Performance Instrument

Barbara Van Doren

Violin

Polly Humphreys   

Chorale (currently Violin)

Ruth Bowsher        

Viola

Carolyn Wimberly 

Cello

John O'Malley       

Oboe

Frank Lowe 

Oboe/English horn

Judy Varner  

Flute/Piccolo

Mariann Hunt-Venys       

Clarinet

Gordon Little         

Horn

Tom Jacobs  

Trumpet

Richard Hulsman   

Trombone