U of S : Communications : OCN : Jan 23, 1998

In February of 1931, the University, with financial assistance from the Carnegie Institute, created a chair of Music - a decision that gave the University the distinction of being the only university west of Toronto and Montreal with a music chair.

Professor Arthur Collingwood, whom President Murray appointed dean of Music,* immediately began a series of lectures in Convocation Hall, with Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra musicians on hand to exemplify points made. By 1933, a four-concert series was implemented, with season tickets set at $2.

By 1939, the Orchestra had outgrown Convocation Hall and concerts were moved to the Adam Ballroom of the Bessborough Hotel. The Second World War sapped personnel from the Orchestra, which recruited musicians from bands of the armed forces to fill the gaps.

With Collingwood's retirement in 1947, the local Rotary Club temporarily took over the management of the Orchestra. Concerts were moved to the old Capitol Theatre, and Professor J.R. Macrae was engaged as the new conductor for the next three years. He was succeeded by one Victor Kviesis, a Latvian lawyer, judge, and opera conductor.

The Orchestra played at the Capitol Theatre from 1948 to 1955 and subsequently at the University Gymnasium, the one that's now condemned.

In 1955, Professor Murray Adaskin, an accomplished violinist and composer now living in retirement in Victoria, was named conductor of the SSO. Striving to perform works by Canadian composers, Adaskin made history in 1958 by making the SSO the first Canadian symphony to commission a composition.

Summer Suite, by Prince Albert-born Robert Fleming, who had studied with the late Dr. Lyell Gustin, of Saskatoon, was played to one of the largest audiences ever to hear the SSO.

Because the budget of the SSO was increasing steadily, Adaskin requested that a Women's Committee be formed to support the Orchestra.

Mrs. Evy Shaffer organized the group, the forerunner of today's Saskatoon Symphony Volunteers.

When Adaskin left the SSO in 1960 to concentrate on composing, the baton was passed for the next three years to Alexander Reisman, an American cellist, and then to Professor David Kaplan, who conducted for the next six years.

In 1968, the Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium was opened with a sold out performance by the SSO. Ticket sales subsequently spiraled and the concert season was expanded to seven concerts.

Franz Zeidler conducted the Orchestra in the 1969-70 season. In 1970-71, Dr. Kaplan, and Professors Dwaine Nelson and Robert Solem served as guest conductors.

One highlight of the season was Adaskin's Divertimento No. 4, for Solo Trumpet and Orchestra, which featured Professor Larry House, trumpet, and which Adaskin conducted himself.

Among other members of the Music Department who performed with the Orchestra in succeeding years were Robin Harrison, Dorothy Howard, Robert Klose, and Edward Bisha.

From 1971-75, Professor Nelson served as both musical director and conductor, bringing many new and unorthodox groups and renowned artists to the Centennial stage.

He was succeeded by Ruben Gurevich (1976-81), David Gray (1982-84), Professor Daniel Swift (1984-92),and Dennis Simons (1993-97). Earl Stafford is the current director.

Other U of S personnel have also contributed their time and talents to the SSO. For example, Dr. T.H. MacLeod, Professor Emeritus C.M. ("Red") Williams, Dr. David Atkinson, Dr. David Male, and the late Professor John Whelan have given years of exemplary service on the SSO's board of directors down the decades, even as the SSO has provided Saskatonians with hundreds of hours of live classical music for almost 70 years.

* Collingwood was dean of a one-man operation. Music did not become a department until 1952, when Professor Murray Adaskin was named its head.

Editor's note: Much of the forgoing material is drawn from Muriel Leeper's The Sound of Music, 1931-1981: A Fifty-Year History of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (1981). Additional thanks to Shirley Spafford, of Saskatoon, for her help with supplemental information.

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