The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra spent four decades at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, from 1957 until the 1996 to 97 season, and then moved into the Winspear Centre for Music. That is the short version. The longer one starts in 1952.
The orchestra was established in 1952 under conductor Lee Hepner as the successor to several earlier orchestras in the city. Its first home was the 1,300 seat Capitol Theatre. In 1957 it moved to the 2,700 seat Jubilee.
Calgary readers will spot that date. The Calgary Philharmonic moved into Calgary’s Jubilee the same year, because the two Jubilee Auditoriums opened as twins. We told that story in The Jubilee Auditorium Redrew Calgary’s Cultural Map and again in The Jubilee and the Philharmonic Had a 28 Year Run.
Professional status and new music
The orchestra became fully professional in 1971. In 1992 John Estacio was appointed its first composer in residence, a post that later passed to Allan Galliland.
The Winspear Centre has been the orchestra’s home since 1997, and the orchestra’s page on the Winspear site lists Jean-Marie Zeitouni as music director.
For a Calgary comparison, read how a college orchestra carried Calgary’s symphony charter. Then look up the Winspear Centre schedule and plan a trip north.
Quick answers
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was established in 1952 under conductor Lee Hepner, as the successor to several earlier orchestras in Edmonton. It first performed at the 1,300 seat Capitol Theatre and became a fully professional orchestra in 1971, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia.
The orchestra plays at the Winspear Centre for Music in Edmonton, its home since 1997. Before that it played at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium from 1957 until the 1996 to 97 season, which was its last there, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia.
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra moved into the 2,700 seat Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in 1957. The Calgary Philharmonic also began using Calgary’s Jubilee Auditorium in 1957, because the two Jubilee halls were built as a pair and opened that year.
Sources: The Canadian Encyclopedia, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra; Winspear Centre, Meet the Musicians.
