History
The New Hampshire Philharmonic - 83 Hanover Street - Manchester NH 03101 tel. (603) 647-6476 info@nhphil.org
A Retrospective of the Philharmonic
and its Orchestra
The New Hampshire Philharmonic is heir to a tradition of civic-minded music-making dating back to 1895. The following timeline, while not comprehensive, is intended to provide a flavor of this proud lineage.
Timeline
1895 The New Hampshire Philharmonic Society is founded.
Miss Mary D. Fife, a musician, businesswoman and Penacook native, upon returning to New Hampshire from musical study in Chicago, gives impulse to the formation of a group that would bring fine orchestral music to New Hampshire. Initial meetings are held in January 1895 at the home of Mrs. Arthur Clarke. The first formal meeting of the New Hampshire Philharmonic Society is held on Feb 11, 1895, with the Hon. G. Byron Chandler of Amoskeag Bank presiding. A large number of prominent civic
leaders make significant financial pledges to guarantee the first concert.
At its initial performance, on Friday evening, May 24, 1895, the orchestra performs Haydn's The Creation. The Manchester Union of May 25, 1895 described the scene: "The exterior of Mechanics' Hall presented an animated scene about 8 o'clock in the evening. The evening was packed solid with humanity, and a stream of hacks deposited their gaily gowned "fares" to add to the surging throng." The article gave a positive review of the concert: "It was a magnificent performance, given before an audience inspiring in point of numbers and enthusiasm, and closed a day abundant with good things in the musical line." The orchestra was led at this first concert by Mr. Henri G. Blaisdell.
1905 The orchestra, now established as an on-going performance vehicle, is active as an amateur arm of the Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences, giving regular concerts as the Orchestra of the Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences, under the musical direction of Professor Rudolph Schiller. The Jan 4, 1909 program features Schubert's "Rosamunde" overture and selections from Wagner's "Tannheuser", conducted by Rudolph Schiller
in the High School Hall.
1918 The Mindt String Quartet begins its third season,
with Rudolph Schiller and Alfred Engel on violin,
Paul LeBlanc on viola and Frederick Mindt on 'cello.
1920s On Jan 28, 1920, Mr. Schiller leads the orchestra
in the Andante from Tchaikovsky's Symphony no. 5 in the
Institute Hall. Performing under Mr. Schiller as the
Manchester Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra quickly
establishes its long history of playing Dvorak, presenting
Dvorak's Symphony "From the New World", op. 95 on April 29, 1923.
1930s Concerts continue, with the Brahms Academic Festival Overture on May 28, 1930.
1958 The orchestra of the Manchester Institute becomes a separate entity.
1959 The new entity performs two concerts under the direction of Frederick Mindt (with program books proclaiming "Organized 1905 - 54th season.")
Later in the year, a group of civic leaders (including Dr. Hermann Sander, Maurice Hoffmann and Dr. Robert Lord) reorganizes the entity, adopting as its historic name the New Hampshire Philharmonic Society. Initial funding is provided by a grant from the Frederick Smyth Trust. The orchestra chooses as its conductor Rolland "Tap" Tapley, a Boston Symphony violinist.
1960 The first concert of the newly named New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra takes place on February 14, 1960, in the Practical Arts Auditorium in Manchester, at the corner of Beech and Concord streets.
The 1960s The orchestra frequently hosts musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra as soloists, including Karle Zeise, Fredy Ostrovsky, Marylou Speaker, Doriot Dwyer, and Joseph Silverstein. Between 1960 and 1972 some sixteen BSO artists solo with the Philharmonic Orchestra. Other soloists who go on to win renown include violinist Lynn Chang and composer John Adams.
1961 A grant is received from the Huntley N. Spaulding Trust for the purchase of a music library.
1964 Arthur Fiedler guest-conducts a benefit concert at the Crotched Mountain Center.
The 1970s The orchestra continues presenting a rich assortment of classicaland popular works. Concerts take place primarily in Manchester and Concord, with occasional concerts in the towns of Bedford, Peterborough, Jaffrey, Dublin, Swanzey and Portsmouth, and at the St. Paul's School and Phillips Exeter Academy.
The 1980s The late 1970s and early 1980s are a challenging time for the orchestra. The spring 1980 concert is cancelled from a lack of funds, and new pressures are felt from the newly formed New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra, ably staffed by Boston-area professional musicians.
In 1986 beloved conductor emeritus Rolland Tapley dies. Continuing his memory, the Tapley music library is donated to the Philharmonic.
Late 1980s and 1990s The orchestra grows in size and stature under conductors Robert Babb and Patrick Botti. The orchestra locates its offices and rehearsal space in 1992 to one of the historic buildings on Hanover Street in downtown Manchester. The Philharmonic begins to call Manchester's Palace Theatre its primary performance home. Concerts also take place in Concord, Portsmouth, Amherst, Loudon, and Kingston.
2000s Anthony Princiotti becomes the eleventh Music Director of the orchestra of the Philharmonic.
The orchestra achieves an ideal balance of the finest student, amateur, and professional musicians. The orchestra continues to present compelling concerts to the public and engaging programs of educational outreach. The Philharmonic reestablishes a recital series for chamber music, performing at the Currier Museum and other significant local venues. The Philharmonic establishes an annual youth concerto competition, drawing finalists from across New Hampshire. An annual collaboration with schoolchildren, Drawn to the Music, is established. The Philharmonic establishes a formal endowment, managed by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
2010 The second hundred years continue....
The Philharmonic gratefully acknowledges the work of Robert Craven, Jane Glennan, and staff of the New Hampshire Historical Society and the Manchester Historic Association as sources for this timeline.
Leaders of the New Hampshire Philharmonic
The Philharmonic displays a rich legacy of service in the persons of its presidents, conductors, orchestra members, and its professional staff.
Presidents of the New Hampshire Philharmonic
G. Byron Chandler (1895)
Dr. Hermann Sander (beginning in 1959)
Carl Bartlett
Walter Scheirer
Dr. H L Tung
Paul Giles
Edna Turner
Dr. Hermann Sander
Melvin Whitcomb
Beverly Ford (nee Loomis)
Hope Wright
Madeline Smith
Anne Hawkins
Katherine Dallaire
Robert Robbins
Stanley Warren
Katherine Dallaire
Diane Brown
Gregg Cunningham (1987-1991)
Gary Turner (1992-1993)
Val Zanchuk (1994-1999)
Clayton Poole (2000-2002)
Jefferson Chickering (2003-2004)
John Briggs, Jr. (2005)
Ronald Ciotti (2006-2010)
Gary Miller (2010-present)
Conductors of the orchestras of the May Festival, of the Manchester Institute and of the New Hampshire Philharmonic
Henri G. Blaisdell (1895)
Rudolph Schiller (active 1905 and in the early years of the Institute orchestra)
Frederick Mindt (Late 1950s)
Rolland "Tap" Tapley (1959-76)
Paul Gay (1975-76 )
Max Hobart (1977)
Dr. Paul Roby (1978-79)
Rachel Worby (1980-81)
Dr. Kay George Roberts (1982-86)
Robert Babb (1987-92)
Patrick Botti (1993-1999)
Anthony Princiotti (2000-present)
Executive Directors of the New Hampshire Philharmonic
Leslie Holman (1985)
Carolyn Whitlock (1986)
John Jackman (1987-1988)
Roxanne Turner (1989-1996)
Steve Olans (1997-1999)
Val Zanchuk (2000)
Nick Zaricki (2001)
Paul Hoffman (2002-present)
John Adams with Rolland Tapley, Dec 1964
Paul Hoffman, Anthony Princiotti, 2005
Miss Mary D. Fife, 1895
Mindt String Quartet, 1918
Photo by Althea Haropulos
G. Byron Chandler (left) at work with his brother, c. 1895
Photo courtesy NH Union Leader
Photo courtesy Manchester Historic Association
Photo Man. His. Assoc.
Ronald Ciotti
John Briggs, Jr.
Jefferson Chickering
Val Zanchuk
The Philharmonic Society
The National Endowment for the Arts
The Frederick Smyth Institute for Music
The New Hampshire Philharmonic
