Mission Statement
The mission of the Missoula Symphony Association shall be to assure cultural enrichment essential to the quality of life in the Missoula area by providing live symphonic and choral music of the highest quality. The Symphony shall provide musical growth and development for its performers and the community.
History
The Missoula Symphony Orchestra was organized in 1954 with Eugene Andrie as its founding conductor. The orchestra personnel was comprised of townspeople, University of Montana music faculty members, and U of M students. A Board of Directors was formed and a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The first concert was performed on April 3, 1955.
At this time, the U.S. launched the world’s first atom-powered submarine, the Nautilus, and conducted thermonuclear tests on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The news personality of the year was Senator Mike Mansfield, who shared the spotlight with Governor Hugh Aronson. Missoula County issued 14,411 passenger car licenses, and today’s “malfunction junction” was controlled by five little red stop signs.
In March of 1956, the Missoula Symphony Orchestra was accepted as a member of the American Symphony Orchestra League (now known as the League of American Orchestras). The Missoula Symphony Chorale was organized in 1962 with George Lewis as founding conductor. The Missoula Symphony Association was formed in 1976 and obtained its non-profit 501(c)(3) status that year.
Now celebrating its 61st season, the Association has grown to a current operating budget of over $600,000. It employs a full-time Music Director, a full-time Executive Director, a full-time Director of Operations, a full-time Director of Patron Services & Special Events, and a part-time Chorale Director. The masterworks season has grown to a five-concert season, with each concert featuring two performances. At least seven additional concerts are presented in addition to the masterworks season. The eighty member orchestra is conducted by Music Director Darko Butorac, and the one hundred member chorale is conducted by Dean Peterson.
In addition to the regular concert season, the orchestra performs an enormous free outdoor Summer Concert each August in downtown Missoula, performs two Youth Concerts each year for 2,000 fourth grade students from communities within a 100 mile radius of Missoula, presents a wildly popular Family Concert and provides educational performances and workshops in Missoula schools and in outlying communities. The Missoula Symphony Chorale performed in Europe at the invitation of choirs in Vienna, Austria in 1991, 1994, 1999 and 2002.
The Missoula Symphony Association continues to grow both artistically and financially as it is now well into its second half-century of progress.
Careers
No positions available at this time.
Auditions
Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Chorale auditions are held annually in late summer/early autumn.
Auditions for the Orchestra’s sub list may be arranged on a case by case basis. Auditions for the Chorale, especially for Male voices, may also be arranged on a case by case basis.