THE PRIDE & CULTURE OF DURHAM REGION

The symbol of excellence and the cultural ambassador of Oshawa and the Regional Municipality of Durham, in recent years the Ontario Philharmonic has seen a tremendous surge of popularity with an ever-widening audience.

• "Exhilarating! A wonderful musical experience"
• "I've never been so excited after attending a symphony concert."
• "Another stellar concert"
• "Beautiful, heart-felt, gorgeous playing. An uplifting event"

OP audience members

The Ontario Philharmonic (formerly the Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra) has established itself as the leading performing arts organization of Durham Region, Oshawa and of the Greater Toronto Area. It was founded in the City of Oshawa in 1957. In the course of its history it has evolved into one of the most exciting and respected regional orchestras in Ontario and in Canada.

The OP is the only professional orchestra serving the entire Durham Region and is an important contributor to its quality of life. Numerous devoted patrons, including beyond the borders of Durham, attend the performances at each concert season and thousands of children attend its annual Youth Concerts, providing an important educational service to the community's youth.

The OP is comprised of approximately seventy-five professional musicians. Although the great symphonic and choral/symphonic repertoire is its mainstay, the OP's programs reflect a wide variety of styles such as light classical, pop music, jazz and music of the world in order to attract all audiences - including members from diverse cultures as well as young people who may not yet have encountered classical music.

In its first decade of existence the OP was comprised of local musicians who formed to play symphonic and chamber music. It had as its Principal Conductor Roy Cox who was also a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Cox was followed by Jacob Groob and later Winston Webber was appointed as Music Director, a position he retained for fifteen seasons.

A MUSIC DIRECTOR WITH OUTSTANDING CREATIVE VISION
An era of spectacular development began in 1996 when our present Maestro, Marco Parisotto, was appointed as Music Director. One of Canada's most acclaimed conductors on the world stage, under his leadership the orchestra grew into a large professional symphonic ensemble of high standard. With a strong artistic vision and determination Maestro Parisotto brought about significant and fundamental changes to every aspect of the OP. With the introduction of innovative and original programming and the invitation of prominent Canadian and international soloists, the recipe for success was clear as he steered the OP to a high-point of popularity with an ever-increasing audience.

A BRIGHT FUTURE
The year 2008 marked the beginning of the orchestra's association with the leading educational institution in the region - the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). This organizational alliance and association of knowledge and art ensures the continued growth of the orchestra in an important way and helps it to maintain the highest of artistic standards.

The UOIT's acquisition of Oshawa's Regent Theatre in 2009 was part of the university's expansion into the downtown core. The UOIT undertook to renovate this historical building to its former glory and has made it available to the OP. Starting in 2010 the Regent Theatre will be the orchestra's new home where it will hold its main concert series.

The name of the orchestra was changed in 1995 and again in 2009 to generate a greater public while still maintaining its long and positive relationship with the City of Oshawa. Since May 2009 the orchestra has been known permanently as the Ontario Philharmonic - a prestigious name fittingly reflecting its impressive development and partnership with the university.

The 2010-2011 concert season marks a renaissance of sorts for the Ontario Philharmonic as it embarks on a new and exciting era at the Regent Theatre.