The Orchestra of Southern Utah (OSU) provides classical music performances for Southern Utah. Musicians include professionals as well as dedicated amateurs. String music has been part of the Cedar City cultural life since the pioneers came and fiddlers provided dance music in Fiddler's Canyon. Orchestra has existed as a part of Southern Utah University (SUU) since its founding. Orien Dalley conducted the orchestra during the 20s. He later went on to a distinguished career in Michigan and helped found the Interlochen performing arts program. When he retired he donated 90 string instruments to SUU which are still used by Southern Utah students.
The community orchestra evolved during the time as Roy Halversen's tenure as SUU orchestra director. He involved students from the middle school, high school, college, and community to provide music for symphony concerts, the Messiah (begun in 1940) and opera productions. Mr. Halverson studied violin at Juilliard and in Berlin before coming to Cedar City.
Other OSU conductors have included David Nyman, Hal Campbell, James Harrison, and Gerard Yun. Guest conductors have included Kory Katseanes, Joel Neves, Xun Sun, Benjamin Winkler and Perry Arnett. For more information, visit the OSU website at http://www.orchestraofsouthernutah.org. |
