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The Red Deer Symphony Orchestra has been an established cornerstone of the Red Deer arts and culture scene since 1987. Under the creative and talented guidance of Music Director Claude Lapalme, the caring guardianship of many board members and countless volunteers throughout the years, and the support of numerous patrons, sponsors and funding agencies, the RDSO has matured from a community based, semi-professional orchestra to a fully professional symphony orchestra.
Since its founding, the RDSO has expanded its four-concert season with a budget of $71,000 and an apprenticeship program, to a six-concert season with a budget of almost $500,000 and a range of musical education experiences. Although much has changed since 1987, much has also remained the same. The RDSO is still run by a volunteer board that works tirelessly to keep the music playing and holds to its original vision of providing educational experiences with symphonic music for central Alberta.
As well as its annual Main Series concert season, RDSO runs a variety of community programs that provide community members that are not otherwise able to attend Main Series concerts with admission-free opportunities to enjoy and engage with RDSO performances. In particular, Choir Kids, Seats for Students, Music for Mental Health, Open Rehearsal, Music + Explorers, and Symphony @ the Snell, provides Central Albertan children and youth with what is often their first experience of professional musical performance.
Financially reliant on the generosity of local patrons and businesses, the RDSO is the only professional symphony orchestra in Canada that does not have operational funding from the municipality it serves. The next generation of Red Deer artists and community builders needs to know that arts and culture have a place in the City of Red Deer’s vision for the future, and we need YOUR help to make this happen!
By donating to the RDSO, you not only make a tangible difference to the future of central Alberta's only professional orchestra; you also endorse the RDSO's place as an important cultural asset that deserves to be supported and sustained so that it can continue to grow and meet the needs of the community it serves.
