About the Canton Symphony Orchestra:
Formed in 1937, the Canton Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert on February 16, 1938 under the direction of Richard Oppenheim. Louis Lane, Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, became its second Music Director in 1949. His tenure initiated a period of several decades while George Szell was Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra, when the Cleveland Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor would systematically be appointed Music Director of the Canton Symphony.
After George Szell’s death in 1971, Robert Marcellus was appointed Music Director, to be followed by Thomas Michalak, Exxon Arts Endowment Conductor with the Pittsburgh Symphony, in 1976. Michalak was succeeded in 1980 by current Music Director Gerhardt Zimmermann, who was then Associate Conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony.
In fulfillment of its mission, the Canton Symphony Orchestra has provided educational programs to the Greater Stark County region since 1938. Their 2023-24 season will be a memorial to the late Maestro Gerhardt Zimmermann, who served as the artistic voice of the organization for 42 seasons. Subscriptions are currently available for sale and renewal, with single tickets going on sale August 15th. This commemorative season will include traditional favorites, contemporary opuses, a world premiere, and feature pieces either undiscovered or under-appreciated in the canon.
Here are links to the Canton Symphony's various 2023-2024 programs:
