HISTORY
Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra

The Foundational Years 1989 - 2000

Pat Carson and Keith Prentice, co-founders of Theatre Under the Stars, established the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra in 1989. The MVSO became an organization where talented local musicians from all walks of life could volunteer their time to perform great symphonic music for the public. Ron Kindell conducted the premier concert at the Clark Haines Theatre in Kettering on December 9, 1989. Clark Haines, well known as a music educator and conductor in the Dayton area, conducted the final concert of that first season.

Haines would be instrumental in securing Charles Wendelken-Wilson as the Artistic Director and Conductor for the fledgling orchestra. Wendelken-Wilson had previously distinguished himself as a conductor with the New York City Opera, Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director and Conductor of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra 1975-1985. Wendelken-Wilson embraced the opportunity to create something very special with this unpaid orchestra that played for the love of music. He would spend ten years (1990-2000) shaping the orchestra artistically and musically, and laid a foundation that would endure long after he moved on to pursue other opportunities, including becoming the Music Director for WDPR/WDPG radio.

Music Directors & Guest Conductors 2000 - 2013

2000-2005

Dr. Thomas Kennedy Jr. – Artistic Director and Conductor

2005

James Johnston stepped in for remainder of season when Dr. Kennedy became unable to conduct due to health issues.

2005-2006

Guest Conductors – Karen Gorden, Dr. Randall Paul, Alejandro Rivas

Dec 2005

Ian Polster conducted MVSO in Ohio Performing Arts Council’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker with Gem City Ballet.

2006-2007

Dr. Randall S. Paul – Music Director and Conductor

2007-2008

Guest Conductors – James Johnston, Dr. Kenneth Kohlenberg, Dr. Jiang Liu

2008-2013

Dr. Kenneth Kohlenberg – Music Director and Conductor

A New Direction 2013 - Present

In 2013 the MVSO board made an important decision to expand the repertoire and community presence of the orchestra, and accepted an invitation to co-produce Handel’s oratorio Judas Maccabaeus with the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton. This grand production included vocal soloists and a community chorus of over 80 singers. A conductor was sought for the particular challenges of bringing this work together. David Deitrick, who had recently retired as the Executive Director of the Springfield Symphony, was secured to conduct this performance held on November 24, 2013 at the Dayton Masonic Center. This event would re-establish the MVSO as an important collaborative organization.

David Deitrick and James Johnston guest conducted the classical concerts for the 2013-2014 season. The Dayton Masonic Center invited the orchestra to provide entertainment for their free holiday concert. Tim Olt conducted the MVSO in this performance featuring young instrumentalist and singers from Muse Machine, and dancers from Gem City Ballet.

Familiar guest conductors were invited to return to the podium during the ambitious 25th Anniversary Gala Season (2014-2015). Ron Kindell conducted Les Miserables, performed in collaboration with Dayton Playhouse at the Dayton Masonic Center, featuring full symphony orchestra, over 70 voices, scenery and costumes. The MVSO would return to the same theatre for Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty in collaboration with Gem City Ballet, and conducted by James Johnston. David Deitrick conducted the season grand finale, which included Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, with narration by Herbert Woodward Martin, and the stirring Beethoven 9th Symphony, with a community chorus of over 80 voices. During the anniversary season the MVSO was very pleased to offer the position of Music Director and Conductor to David Deitrick.

Deitrick officially filled his new role at the beginning of the 2015-2016 season. Audiences received a unique opportunity to get to know him during a pre-show talk for the concert Movie Magic: Music of John Williams. During the talk Music Director David Deitrick shared his experience working with John Williams and conducting the composer’s Olympic Fanfare and Theme at the 1984 Olympics. The MVSO has grown and thrived under Deitrick’s direction. He has programmed perennial favorites, as well as pieces that are rarely heard in concert, including Respighi’s Church Windows and Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony.

The MVSO has also continued to produce large-scale productions featuring the full symphony orchestra, including Fiddler on the Roof, in collaboration with Dayton Playhouse, and An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein Classics, with talented local soloists and a large community chorus. The free holiday show at Dayton Masonic has now become a yearly tradition, featuring a vocal soloist, and dancers from Gem City Ballet, bringing delight to young and old.

The final concert of the 2016-2017 season brought the premier of the MVSO Youth Strings, playing Leroy Anderson’s Waltzing Cat alongside the members of the MVSO. The youth program expanded in 2017-2018, performing a stand-alone concert following a string workshop by world-class violinist Philip Pogady. The young musicians joined MVSO the next day to perform Mother Ginger on an all Tchaikovsky program, and Pogady enthralled everyone with his performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.

Don’t miss the 2018-2019 season. There will be something for everyone!

Learn more about MVSO Youth Strings program