When did the symphony get its start?

Quinte Symphony was established in 1960 as The Eastern Ontario Concert Orchestra. The name was officially changed in 2000, to better identify the link to the Quinte region.

Who founded the symphony?

The Founder and First Music Director/Conductor was Stephen Choma (d. 1976).

How does a musician become a member of the Quinte Symphony?

Being a community orchestra, we have a mixture of professional and amateur musicians ranging in age from teens to seniors.
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What type of organization is the symphony?

The Quinte Symphony is an incorporated not-for-profit without share capital (Letters of Patent, Province of Ontario, 1977) governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The organization is a registered charity and issues charitable donation receipts.

What funding does the symphony receive?

Ticket Sales account for only 35% of the symphony's revenue. Over 60% of our funding comes from sponsorships, donations and fundraising efforts.

What Ontario Trillium Foundation Funding did the symphony receive?

Quinte Symphony received a grant of $70,300 over three years from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in January 2000 to hire a General Manager, provide office furniture, computer equipment and to develop a website.

What type of education programs does the symphony provide to the community?

The Quinte Symphony provides weekly in-class programs, which introduces students to stringed instruments and provides each student with a hands-on experience.

Three days a year the "Carnival of the Animals" tours in the Quinte region performing at three or four schools each day. This is a delightful program that opens a new world for young minds.

The Quinte Symphony also provides musicians for band and woodwind clinics and masterclasses.

Who arranges these programs?

The Quinte Symphony's Outreach Coordinator arranges these programs.

Does the symphony get involved with local Music Festivals?

The Quinte Symphony contributes a cash award and gift to the competitors in the two local music festivals, the Quinte Rotary Music Festival and the Stirling Festival of Sacred Praise, who receive the highest marks in orchestral strings.

What is the Stephen Choma Memorial Award?

The award was created to honour Stephen Choma, the fonder and original director of the Eastern Ontario Concert Orchestra, and is given annually to a student musician who has made an exceptional contribution to the orchestra.

What other awards does the symphony present?

The Young Musicians Competition for Instrument and Voice is held every second year. The Quinte Symphony presents a cash award and, at the discretion of the music director, the winner may be invited to perform in concert with the Quinte Symphony.