About the Kingston Symphony

Kingston Symphony

Founded in 1953 by Dr. Graham George, the Kingston Symphony is a professional Canadian orchestra based in Kingston, Ontario. Operating under the umbrella of the Kingston Symphony Association, it features roughly 50 to 55 musicians and is celebrated for championing both classical masterworks and innovative Canadian compositions.

The orchestra has been led by prominent Canadian musical figures, with Maestro Evan Mitchell currently serving as the Music Director. The organization is deeply invested in community enrichment, offering family programming, symphony education partnerships for grade school students, and special digital premieres (such as John Estacio's Domestic Divertimento).

Meet your Music Director

Meet your Musicians

History and Evolution

Founding

The ensemble was established in 1953 as the New Symphony Association of Kingston. Its debut concert took place on April 12, 1954, performing Haydn's The Creation at the Grand Theatre in collaboration with the Kingston Choral Society.

Rebranding and Expansion

The ensemble was formally renamed the Kingston Symphony in 1963 with the creation of the Kingston Symphony Association. Under the baton of conductors like Edouard Bartlett and Alexander Brott, the orchestra expanded its ranks to include professional, contract-based players for first-chair positions.

Navigating Challenges

In 1996, the symphony faced severe budget cuts. To adapt, Music Director Glen Fast (who led the orchestra from 1991 to 2014) introduced highly successful Baroque-focused programs and championed emerging local soloists.

Keep the Music Playing

Not even the pandemic could stop us play. Kingston Symphony kept the music playing during the pandemic with virtual and innovative performances, including full-sized orchestral pieces utilizing unconventional kitchen and household items.

Kingston Symphony Association

Supported heavily by the Kingston Symphony Volunteers, the association also manages a number of other ensembles, including the Kingston Community Strings, Kingston Youth Orchestras, and Kingston Choral Society.