Brief History

The present symphony orchestra traces its origins back to the summer of 1947 when the Ladies’ Morning Musical Club of Saint John joined forces with the Rotary Club to start a movement that would lead to the establishment of the Saint John Symphony Orchestra in 1950 under the musical direction of Kelsey Jones as the first Conductor. It was committed to putting on performances, developing audiences and encouraging young performing artists.

Jones gave his farewell concert in 1954 and was succeeded by Concertmaster Bruce Holder, Senior who was the Conductor for the next four years. Adolph Krack followed for one year until the much loved Janis Kalnins took over in 1959 and served as Music Director and Conductor for the next ten years. In 1962 the orchestra’s name was changed to New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra. It drew heavily on the musicians of the Royal Canadian Dragoons Band in Camp Gagetown. As support gathered for the creation of a regional professional orchestra the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra folded, making way for the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra based in Halifax. The ASO struggled for more than a decade, providing excellent orchestral music in cities around Atlantic Canada. But with mounting financial difficulties, it was forced to close down in 1982.

Musicians, classical music lovers, and supporters worked hard to fill the void and create once again a symphony orchestra in Saint John. John Hanson, Robert McCausland and many others were tireless in their efforts and by 1984 had succeeded in reestablishing the Saint John Symphony Orchestra. Initially under the batons of Hallie Janes and Charles Willet, the orchestra appointed Nurhan Arman in 1987 as its Music Director who would serve with distinction for a decade and a half.

A visionary and energetic Board of Directors, under the dynamic leadership of Reid Parker, an executive with NB Tel, brought about the appointment of Nurhan Arman and wished to see the orchestra become semi-professional through the addition of core musicians. In 1988 David Adams, Enoch Kwan, Christopher Buckley and Sonja Adams were appointed as core musicians, becaming the string section principals of the orchestra; they established the Saint John String Quartet and began offering their own Virtuoso Series throughout the concert season, now in its 20 th season of classical chamber music. They have recorded several CDs, the first of which in 1993 was praised as ’one of the most satisfying and pleasurable CDs to appear this year’ by famed CBC Vancouver radio host, Bob Kerr. In 1995 their CD won the East Coast Music Award A Best Classical Album of the Year.
 

A strong interest in live orchestral performances throughout the province encouraged the orchestra to offer concerts in other cities. In 1986 a subscription series was established in Fredericton and Moncton. With the increase in concerts, volunteers and board members were welcomed from across the province. In 1990 this broader scope of the organization was recognized with a change in the name to Symphony New Brunswick.

Through the contributions of the core musicians and with the artistic leadership of Maestro Arman, the orchestra grew dramatically. The rapid and constant rise in the excellence of the orchestra’s performances has made for favorable media coverage, increased ticket sales and the willingness of Canadian composers to entrust their works to the interpretation and skill of the orchestra.

Following Nurhan Arman’s retirement in 2002, the orchestra began conducting a search for a new Music Director. A short list of 7 candidates was arrived at and in the next two seasons these candidates were used as guest conductors with the orchestra. In October 2005 the Board announced the appointment of Stéphane Laforest as the new Music Director and Principal Conductor for a three year renewable term beginning August 2006. Maestro Laforest was the first choice of the search committee, the Board, the musicians, and the audience.

Laforest brings years of experience as a conductor and music director, considerable skill in working with musicians and boards, and a passion for music and the development of orchestras. He has been a guest conductor with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Québec Symphony Orchestra, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, the Nova Scotia Symphony Orchestra and the orchestras of Windsor and London, Ontario among many others. He was appointed conductor of the Governor General of Canada Gala Awards Ceremony broadcast live on TV in 2003, 2004 and 2006. He has toured in Europe and Asia and has ben the recipient of many awards. He resides in Montreal, Quebec, with his wife Elaine Marcil, an accomplished concert violinist herself, and their two children.