History
In 1946, Victor Norman founded the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted and guided for the next 35 years. George Baziotopoulos led the ECSO from 1981 to 1986. During the 1986-1987 season, we conducted a search for the next music director. Paul C. Phillips was selected from a field of over 220 applicants and five guest conductors. He was the music director for 11 seasons until his resignation at the end of the 1998 season. Subsequently, a nine person search committee was formed and from over 250 submitted resumes selected four candidates as the permanent position of ECSO Music Director. Xiao-Lu Li was chosen and was announced as the new music director at a free community concert on May 26, 1999. After nine years, Xiao-Lu Li departed with fanfare and a great grand finale concert in May 2008. The 2008-2009 Season was a search season, during which six finalists for the position of ECSO Music Director performed. Toshiyuki Shimada was chosen to be our new music director in May 2009.

A total of 45% of the ECSO income is earned and 55% is derived from fundraising events, grants, corporate sponsorships and hundreds of individual contributions. The percentages are in line with national averages for arts organizations.

The Eastern Connecticut Symphony organization serves the community, reaching children of pre-school age through senior citizens enjoying their golden years. Our music-in-the-schools programs are presented throughout the elementary schools, kindergarten through middle school, in New London, Groton and Norwich.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Inc. (Symphony) is to enrich the cultural life of the region by performing high quality music and by conducting educational outreach programs.

Concerts
Annually from September to April, the 75-plus member professional Symphony Orchestra presents six subscription concerts, many of which feature guest soloists. All subscription concerts are performed at the historic Garde Arts Center on State Street in New London. Free lectures, sponsored by the Friends of the Symphony, precede the classic concerts. The Orchestra is also contracted for additional concerts, such as concerts at The Mohegan Sun in the Grand Arena and performances with the Eastern Connecticut Ballet in presentations of "The Nutcracker."

Education
The Youth Orchestra rehearses weekly from September through May under the direction of Joan Winters. A winter and spring concert are performed for the public and orchestra-in-the-round concerts are given by Youth Orchestra members in elementary schools where the children sit on rug squares right next to the musicians. A young string ensemble conducted by Karin Carlson is a feeder group for the youth orchestra. Each year, approximately 35 Music-in-the-Schools programs are presented by trios, quartets or quintets of ECSO musicians in lecture/concert demonstrations at elementary and middle schools throughout Connecticut. The full symphony orchestra performs at the Garde Arts Center annually for over 2,500 third and fourth grade students from area schools.

The Annual ECSO Instrumental Competition provides a wonderful opportunity for the young instrumentalists through the age of 24 to win cash prizes as well as the right to a solo appearance with the orchestra in a subscription concert. The competition is open to instrumentalists with no minimum age requirement through the age of 24. Contestants vie for cash prizes and the right to perform with the ECSO in a subscription concert. The finals are open to the public free-of-charge. Families are encouraged to attend this afternoon of performances by young talented musicians. It is a wonderful way to introduce youngsters to classical music in an informal setting where they can come and go at will as long as silence is observed. Complimentary refreshments are served while the judges retreat to chambers and make their selections. Many senior citizens also take advantage of this free afternoon of music and munchies.

Ensembles
The Eastern Connecticut Symphony has available a wide selection of musical groups from its member roster. A duo of harp and flute, a brass quintet, a woodwind quintet, a ragtime group, or a swing band are some of the possible combinations which can be contracted through the Symphony for all kinds of events such as weddings, receptions, and parties. Ensemble work gives employment to the musician and greater visibility for the Symphony.

The Youth Orchestra involves musicians from seventh grade through high school from over 18 communities in New London County. They give two concerts annually which are well attended by senior citizens and young families. In addition the Youth Orchestra gives concerts-in-the-round in elementary schools. These programs are presented in the evening and the young children are invited to sit on carpet squares beneath the feet of the musicians. Many families look forward to this interactive and free evening of music.

Our Usher Program exposes students from area high schools as well as cadets from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy to our concerts and gives them volunteer opportunities to satisfy their school requirements. These young people go through organized training and are required to sign contracts indicating their availability and commitment to the concert dates. If you are a high school studend and would like to be part of the Student Usher Program, click here for a brochure.

The Chorus, comprised of approximately 75 volunteer singers of all ages is conducted by Mark Singleton, Choral Director. Auditions are held annually in early Fall. Members of the Chorus come from all over New London and Middlesex Counties. They perform with the ECSO annually in a subscription concert as well as independently in a December holiday concert. In 1998, they were invited to appear at Carnegie Hall. The Chorus, with members of the Mystic River Chorale, performed in Spring 2002 in Lafayette, Louisiana, with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra as the featured guests in a repeat performance of the 2001 concert of Carmina Burana. This concert marked ECSO Music Director Xiao-Lu Li's final season with the Acadiana Symphony.