In 1946, Victor Norman founded the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted and guided for the next 35 years. George Baziotopoulos led the ECSO from 1981-1986. During the 1986-87 season, we conducted a search for the next music director. Paul C. Phillips was selected from a field of over 220 applicants and five guest conductors, and remained in that position for 11 seasons, until his resignation at the end of the 1998 season. Subsequently, the nine-person search committee was formed and from over 250 submitted resumes selected four candidates for the permanent position of ECSO Music Director. Xiao-Lu Li was chosen and was announced as the new music director at a free community concert on May 26, 1999. After nine years Xiao-Lu Li departed with fanfare and a great grand finale concert in May 2008. A search season in 2008-2009, during which 6 finalists for the position of ECSO Music Director will perform, is now in process. The new music director will be named at the conclusion of the season in May or June 2009.
The ECSO presents seven subscription concerts from September through May, most of which feature guest soloists. All subscription concerts are performed at the historic Garde Arts Center on State Street in New London. Free lectures, sponsored by the Friends of the Symphony, precede the classic concerts. The Orchestra is also contracted for additional concerts, such as concerts at The Mohegan Sun in the Grand Arena and performances with the Eastern Connecticut Ballet in presentations of “The Nutcracker.” The 70 member volunteer chorus prepares two annual programs, one of which is performed with the orchestra. Educational programs include approximately 30-35 Music-in-the-Schools concerts presented by trios, quartets or quintets of musicians in lecture/performance demonstrations in elementary and junior high schools throughout Connecticut. For the past several years, the ECSO has presented Young People’s Concerts at the Garde for third and fourth graders during the school day for children from many communities including Norwich, New London, Groton, Montville, East Lyme, Old Lyme, and Waterford. In addition, the ECSO sponsors a Youth Orchestra that rehearses weekly from September through May under the direction of Adrian Mackiewicz. A winter and a spring concert are performed for the public plus several orchestra-in-the-round concerts. New in the past few years is the formation of a string group of younger children who will be trained for the youth orchestra. High school students are also used as ushers for the concert and can fulfill their community service while being exposed to classical music. The ECSO Instrumental Competition attracts talented musicians from all over the country. The finals are free and open to the public.