Regional Orchestra of the Week: Juneau Symphony, AK

This week, BWW Classical features the Juneau Symphony based in Juneau, Alaska!

The Juneau Symphony was founded in 1962 by Cliff and Gladys Berge. It was first called the Juneau Symphonette, then the Juneau Little Symphony and played its first concert at the Twentieth Century Theater. The orchestra has presented concerts to Juneau and other Southeast community audiences every season since then. In 1976 the Juneau Symphony created its first board of directors and in 1981 received tax-exempt status as a 501(c)3 corporation.

For the first twenty years the Symphony relied on volunteer conductors: Cliff Berge, Lawton Hull, Jane Stewart, George Hoyt and Bernie Hendricks. In 1983 the Symphony gained its first paid conductor Mel Flood, with help from the University of Alaska Southeast. Flood was hired as a full time faculty member at UAS with part of his duties being conducting the Juneau Symphony. Flood also taught wind ensemble, conducting and flute at UAS. After 17 years Flood stepped down and in 1999 Kyle Wiley Pickett was chosen to lead the Symphony into the future.

Kyle Wiley Pickett is the current Music Director and Conductor of the Juneau Symphony. He is also the Music Director and conductor of the North State Symphony, a professional symphony in northern California. A versatile musician, his conducting activities range from the symphony orchestra to opera to musical theater to choral work. Wiley Pickett is a frequent guest conductor on the west coast and previously held positions as Music Director with the Rogue Music Theater in southern Oregon and Assistant Conductor with the Peabody Conservatory Orchestra and Opera.

Over the years, the Symphony has also sponsored other events and participated with other arts groups including the Juneau Lyric Opera, Perseverance Theatre, the International Folk Dancers, Juneau Douglas High School music department and the Juneau Oratorio Choir. A Children's Concert was added in 1980 and since at least the mid 1990s this concert has been incorporated into the schedule of the winter or spring concert which features the winner of the Symphony's annual youth concerto competition.

For many years, the Symphony performed at graduation ceremonies at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS or previously UAJ, the University of Alaska - Juneau) and in 1987 performed at the Inaugural Ceremony for Governor Steve Cowper. When funds are available the orchestra has gone on tour, starting with a 1967 trip to Petersburg. They have since visited Skagway, Sitka, Wrangell, Ketchikan and Haines whenever possible.

To learn more about the Juneau Symphony, visit http://juneausymphony.org/

Photo credit: Juneau Symphony

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