What is Symphony by the Sea?
Symphony by the Sea is an all-professional, 35-piece symphony orchestra on the North Shore of Boston that performs music ranging from Baroque to Contemporary.
The orchestra was founded when Royston Nash, conductor of the Cape Cod Symphony and former Music Director of London’s D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, assembled a group of local and Boston area musicians and began weekly rehearsals at Marblehead’s Old Town Hall. After playing informally together for several months, the orchestra made its public debut at the Peabody Essex Museum in June 1981.
Symphony by the Sea performs five Saturday evening subscription series concerts from September to May. Saturday evening concerts are in First Universalist Church of Salem. All Saturday evening concerts are repeated on Sunday afternoons at the Performing Arts Center of the Governor’s Academy in Byfield. Pops and school concerts are scheduled individually by special arrangement at various locations.
The orchestra is committed to introducing young people to the world of classical music. Through our own Symphony by the Sea Youth Orchestra and our affiliation with the Northshore Youth Symphony Orchestra, we encourage and support the development of young musicians. In-school presentations and special youth concerts enable us to enrich the cultural lives of youngsters throughout the North of Boston area. Our subscription series concerts have regularly featured emerging young stars of the music world.
Since its inception, Symphony by the Sea has brought a standout array of soloists to the listening public, including such celebrated artists as Pamela Frank, Stephanie Chase, Paula Robison, D’Anna Fortunato, Leone Buyce, Ann Hobson Pilot, James Buswell, Frederick Moyer, Carol Wincenc and Augustin Hadelich. Guest conductors have included Harry Ellis Dickson, Max Hobart and Steven Karidoyanes. Donald Palma, a guest conductor several years ago, is Symphony by the Sea’s new Conductor and Music Director.
Outside its yearly concert series in Salem and Byfield/Newbury, the orchestra has also performed at such venues as Wiggin Auditorium in Peabody, Hammond Castle in Gloucester and the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington. Boston locations have included Jordan Hall, Faneuil Hall, Old North Church and the Hynes Auditorium.
New volunteers to Symphony by the Sea’s staff and board of directors are always welcome. If you would like to play a role in the exciting cultural work of our organization, please contact our president, Patty McDermott, at .