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Des Moines Symphony
Distance: 0.9 Mi221 Walnut St
50309 Des Moines -
Flying Mango Inc
Distance: 4.1 Mi4345 Hickman Rd
50310-3352 Des Moines -
Central Iowa Symphony
Distance: 30.6 Mi1115 Orchard Dr
50010 Ames -
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony
Distance: 88.2 MiBluedorn Performing Arts Center
50614-0803 Cedar Falls -
Banjoy
Distance: 85.7 Mi10693 338th Ave
52316 North English
Website Links
Description
Currently lead by Music Director and Conductor, Carl Johnson, the Des Moines Community Orchestra was founded by Dr. Janice Wade in 1976, gathering together interested area musician acquaintances. The first concert featured guest percussion soloist, Drake faculty member Larry Kaptain, playing the Milhaud percussion concerto. Interest in the orchestra continued to grow, and the fledgling group could be found rehearsing and performing all around town, encouraged by donations of time, space and financial assistance from members and supporters. Music Directors and Conductors: Janice Wade continued as Music Director and Conductor of the orchestra from 1976 through 1987. She then took a teaching position at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, where she remains today as an Associate Professor of Music, teaching violin and viola. She also is Music Director and Conductor of the Wartburg Community Symphony. Beginning in 1987, Rod Sharpe conducted the Des Moines Community Orchestra for two seasons while he was a student at Drake University. He subsequently went on to study Library Science at the University of Iowa. During his time there he also worked at the Library of Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, as well as conducted the orchestra for community theater musicals in Mt. Vernon. Beginning in 1995, Rod started a full-time library position at Western Illinois University. Richard Gerstenberger became Music Director and Conductor for the next ten concert seasons (1989-1999). Maestro...