History of the SSO

A Timeline of Saskatoon’s Orchestra

• 1931–1947 Arthur Collingwood – Music Director
• 1931 Venue – Convocation Hall at U of S
• 1939 Venue – Adam Ballroom, (Delta) Bessborough Hotel
• 1947–1950 J.R. Macrae – Music Director
• 1949 Venue – Capital Theatre
• 1950–1956 Victor Kviesis – Music Director
• 1955 Venue – Gymnasium at the U of S
• 1956–1957 Jim Bolle – Music Director
• 1957–1960 Murray Adaskin – Music Director
• 1959 Junior Symphony and Intercollegiate Orchestra
• 1960–1963 Alexander Reisman – Music Director
• 1963-1969 David Kaplan – Music Director
• 1968 Venue – Centennial Auditorium (now TCU Place)
• 1969–1970 Franz Zeidler – Music Director
• 1970–1971 David Kaplan – Music Director
• SSO is a community orchestra
• Funding from the Saskatchewan Arts Board and the Canada Council
  for the Arts begins
• Funding begins for SSO Artists-in-Residence (start of the “core”)
• Women of the Symphony running concerts
• 1971–1976 Dwaine Nelson – Music Director
• Played same concert twice to capacity crowds
• Youth development program
• 1976–1982 Ruben Gurevich – Music Director
• 1982–1984 David Gray – Music Director
• 1982 Monte Keene Pishny Floyd composition for City of Saskatoon centennial
• 1984–1993 Daniel Swift – Music Director
• 1989 First SSO Book and Music Sale
• 1993–1997 Dennis Simons – Music Director
• 1997–2002 Earl Stafford – Music Director
• Symphony Under the Sky outdoor concerts
• New Music Festival
• 2002–2008 Douglas Sanford – Music Director
• 2008–2010 Earl Stafford – Music Director
• 2010 Sustain the Music Campaign with support of the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation
• SSO Book and Music Sale cumulative total crosses $1 million mark on first day of sale
• 2010–2015 Victor Sawa – Music Director
• 2011 New home at 408 20^th Street West
• SSO Book and Music Sale single event total exceeds $119,585 (a record)
• 2014 – Mark Turner joins the SSO as their new Executive Director
• 2015 – The SSO raises $448,000 through its Share In The Future fundraiser with support of the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation, retires long-term debt to be debt free
• 2015 – Eric Paetkau – Music Director
• 2017 – Share in the Future campaign raises over $220,000 with the support of the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation
• 2018 – SSO Book and Music Sale celebrates its 30th anniversary
• 2018 – SSO and its Book Sale move to their new home at 602B 51st Street East
• 2019 – SSO Book and Music Sale surpasses a 31 year cumulative total of $2 million raised
• 2019 – Share in the Future campaign raises $633,000, with the generous support of the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation, retires accumulated deficit leaving the organization “in the black”
• 2020 – Launch of the Digital Concert Stream, showcasing the orchestra in live stream and concert films
• 2021 – SSO launches streaming platform ConcertStream.tv
• 2025 – SSO launches After Dark Gin with Blackfox Farm & Distillery