The Ontario Arts Council has awarded the Vida Peene Orchestra Award to the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra.
The $5,000 award is named after the late Vida Peene, a Hamilton-based arts patron who made a bequest to the Canada Council for the Arts when she passed away in 1978.
Given out every two years, the award recognizes artistic and organizational achievement of professional, semi-professional or community-based orchestras in Ontario. The Ontario Arts Council administers the jury process for the award.
The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1967 by music director and conductor Klement Hambourg and the members of the Peterborough Chamber Orchestra.
The core of the orchestra consists of around 40 volunteer community players based in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, who come from all walks of life. Orchestra sections are led by professional musicians, and the group as a whole is led by music director and conductor Michael Newnham.
Along with presenting five concerts each season at Showplace Performance Centre, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra has an education and outreach program to share music experiences outside of regular concerts. The musicians, music director, staff and volunteers visit area schools, lead an intermediate band festival, and promote orchestral music and composition at community events throughout the year.
The Vida Peene Orchestra Award will be presented during the 2:30 p.m. performance of the orchestra’s “As the Sun Rises” concert on Saturday, April 2nd at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
