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Open Letter from Jon Garland
Chairman, Symphony Syracuse Foundation

The Syracuse Symphony was the pride of our arts community, and its closure after 50 years was an enormous loss. Whether it was through ticket purchases, donations, or sponsorships, many people invested in the SSO and helped build it into something of which we can all be proud. While many of us have focused on our individual losses, the loss to our community was much larger. School and educational performances have disappeared, library concerts by symphony ensembles have vanished, and concerts downtown have been reduced to just a few performances.

In some cases no orchestra emerges after a bankruptcy, and in others a reorganization happens years later. The musicians of the SSO decided to do what we could to keep playing for all of you until a more stable future could be arranged. Symphony Syracuse was the result of our efforts, and we are thrilled to have given 25 well-attended performances since July of last year.

There have been some initial efforts to restructure the orchestra in a more permanent way, and we have been working together with many people to restore a full professional orchestra here in Syracuse. We are hopeful that a bright future awaits for the orchestra, our city, and our region.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Presenting a major work like the Verdi Requiem is a huge endeavor. The Requiem uses a large orchestra, a large chorus, and four remarkable soloists. Since Verdi was an opera composer, he wrote the vocal solos in the Requiem for operatic voices.

Where does one go to find operatic voices for these solos? Syracuse Opera would be a good place to start. Recently, we spoke with Cathy Wolff, General and Artistic Director of Syracuse Opera about the collaboration of Syracuse Opera and Symphony Syracuse.

Q. What do you think about the cooperative efforts between Syracuse Opera and Symphony Syracuse?

A. I love it and hope that we can do much more! Not only does each organization benefit, but so does our audience.

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Syracuse Opera and Symphony Collaborate

Symphony Syracuse musicians were in the pit for the entire 2011-2012 season of Syracuse Opera and next year this collaboration will continue. Syracuse Opera's 2012-2013 season opens and closes with the traditional: Tosca and The Marriage of Figaro. In between, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street -- A Musical Thriller will be staged for six performances in the smaller Carrier Theater of the John H. Mulroy Civic Center.

The Symphony Syracuse Foundation and its musicians wish to thank Syracuse Opera for its continuing support of our efforts to establish a permanent symphony for the CNY region.

Gallery: In the Pit during Traviata Rehearsals