New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra

New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra

New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra. A 55-60 member, provincially oriented orchestra formed in 1962 and based in Saint John. It drew its personnel from the former and orchestras and the Royal Canadian Dragoons Band from Camp Gagetown near Fredericton.

The orchestra's first concert, 21 Nov 1962 at Saint John High School, included Beethoven's Symphony No. 4, Bach's Two-Piano Concerto in C (soloists: Rosabelle and Kelsey Jones), and Jones' Miramichi Ballad. Concerts (10 during the first season) followed in Fredericton, Moncton, Sussex, and St Andrews. In subsequent years the orchestra gave fewer concerts and travelled less. During its six-year history Janis Kalnins was the conductor, Douglas Major the assistant conductor, and Bruce Holder the concertmaster. Soloists included the singers Diane Oxner and Gloria Richard. The orchestra sponsored the formation of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra in 1966.

After army bands in Fredericton and Halifax were abolished by federal government decree, and bandsmen prevented from supplementing local orchestras, the New Brunswick SO and the Halifax Symphony Orchestra were superseded by the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra.