New Scottsdale Orchestra Finds Perfect Pitch

“We’re really the hometown orchestra for Scottsdale,” Denise Wilson, orchestra board chair and oboist, said. “It’s a big responsibility.”

In classical music, timing is essential; ditto in life.

Meribeth Reeves, managing director of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, said her organization is “always happy to support Scottsdale community-based organizations. Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra approached us with a committed board, committed donors, and a dedicated musician core.”

“Their timing was perfect for scheduling,” Reeves added, “as dates previously held for Scottsdale Philharmonic had just been released.”

The Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra made a perfect pitch, just as “Scottsdale Philharmonic informed us that they had decided not to renew their contract with us for this upcoming season,” Reeves said. “They said they needed a larger seating capacity for their performances. We wish them nothing but the best.”

In its first public performance, the 65-member Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra will play a concert titled “New Beginnings,” under the baton of guest conductor John Massaro, the principal conductor for the Phoenix Opera.

A Dec. 10 holiday concert by the Scottsdale Symphonic will be conducted by Charlotte Ruth Harrison. Livia Gho is the guest conductor for Feb. 18’s “An Afternoon of Romance,” with Desmond Siu conducting the orchestra’s March 24 “America.”

Wilson emphasized the pure democracy of the new group.

“We’re having our musicians choose our permanent music conductor,” she said. “We heard the message loud and clear: our musicians want to be involved in bringing great classical music to the community—not just sitting in orchestra and playing, but by bringing ideas.”

Wilson said most of the Scottsdale Symphonic members are like her: classically trained musicians who got sidetracked into non-music careers.

She is a pilot who owns Jet Agent, a private plane purchasing broker in North Scottsdale, yet never lost her passion for Mozart, Beethoven, and company.

Now, even in playing centuries-old music, they are tuned up “to be a part of something new and something growing and something that they have a part in building,” Wilson said.

“So there’s this energy—there’s energy in every single one of our rehearsals.”

Wilson said Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra members range in age from 18 to 65, with many sporting professional musician experience on their resumes.

Asked if audience members should have low expectations, considering this is the Scottsdale Symphonic’s debut, the oboist was emphatic—at the risk of tooting her own woodwind.

Those who come to the “New Beginnings” concert “should be expecting a top-tier performance,” Wilson said. “I think anyone that comes to the concert this Sunday is going to be very pleased and surprised at what a great orchestra this is.”