ABOUT US
The Meridian Symphony Orchestra is a 70-member ensemble dedicated to enriching the cultural life of our community and region by providing quality entertainment in a family-friendly, educationally focused environment.
We are an all-volunteer orchestra, with members from a diverse range of backgrounds, that performs “for the love of it.”
The Meridian Symphony presents four concerts during its regular season, including a spring concert featuring winners of the Young Artists Competition, plus a summer outdoors concert.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President–Dan Malan
Secretary–Jennifer Rhees
Treasurer–Ken Suchy
Artistic Director–Jim Ogle
Lobby/Tickets–Annette Matlock
Social Media–Richelle Greene
YAC–Louise van der Eijk
Personnel Mngr–Kevin Bolen
Concertmaster—Jenny Iorga
Terry Berger
Lee Roby
Jennifer Anderson
JAMES OGLE
// artistic director and conductor
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Now in his ninth season, Maestro Ogle has brought a new level of excitement to the Meridian Symphony, expanding the orchestra’s repertoire and presenting concerts that are entertaining, inspiring and challenging. Jim served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Boise Philharmonic for 20 seasons, and upon his retirement in 2007 was named Conductor Emeritus.
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In 1972, Jim was a winner of the Malko International Conductor’s Competition in Copenhagen, Denmark, and in 1974, won the North Carolina Symphony’s first Young Conductor’s Competition, where he served as Assistant and then Associate Conductor for 18 years. In 1980, he attended the prestigious Tanglewood Music Festival, summer home of the Boston Symphony, where he studied with Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Andre Previn and Sir Collin Davis.
YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
The opportunity for a young musician to appear in concert as a soloist with a symphony orchestra is both extremely valuable and quite rare. The Meridian Symphony is proud to sponsor an annual Young Artists Competition, open to students through grade 12 from Southwest Idaho.
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Top winners in both junior and senior categories will perform with the Meridian Symphony during the season. Always an audience favorite, the concert showcases some of the amazing young talent in our area, is highly entertaining, and serves as an inspiration to other young musicians.
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YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Christa Walker, Greg Felton, Greg Hotrum
// co-conductors
The Meridian Symphony Youth Orchestra is open to students in grades 9 to 12 and begins rehearsals in September.
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The new youth symphony is being launched to provide young musicians from the Treasure Valley with the opportunity to participate in full orchestra rehearsals and concerts, while being mentored by members of the Meridian Symphony. The program’s goals are to educate and inspire young musicians through exceptional ensemble training and performance opportunities, while helping to grow the school orchestra and band programs in the school districts in the Treasure Valley.
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