KITCHENER, ONTARIO, October 30, 2024 – The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (KWS) is pleased to announce that it will continue its almost eighty-year legacy, despite declaring bankruptcy in September 2023.
A proposal to creditors received unanimous support and was recently approved by the Superior Court of Ontario. The annulment of the bankruptcy allows the KWS to move forward with restoring its long standing position as a pillar in the arts and culture community of Waterloo Region.
“The board is delighted to be working with the musicians of the KWS to continue an almost eight-decade legacy of bringing a diverse range of live concerts and outreach programs to audiences,” said Bill Poole, Chair of the KWS Board of Directors. “We’re excited to define and realize a strategic and artistic vision for the future of the KWS moving forward, continuing the orchestra’s longstanding commitment of delivering exceptional live music experiences as a living part of our community.”
The KWS, in collaboration with the musicians, will present concerts at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Kitchener throughout the remainder of the 2024-25 season, featuring beautiful music in an intimate setting. Two concerts – a classical and a pops – will finish out 2024.
On November 16 at 7:30 pm, On Remembrance and Hope will feature music of Sibelius, Ralph Vaughan Williams (with concertmaster Bénédicte Lauzière as soloist), and Avril Coleridge-Taylor, closing with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Visit https://OnRemembrance.eventbrite.ca to purchase tickets.
Audiences will experience their favourite holiday classics at the KWS Holiday Celebration on December 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. Visit https://KWSCelebration.eventbrite.ca to purchase tickets.
“Members of the community are encouraged to show their support of the Symphony and love of live music by attending these concerts,” said Poole. “The shared experience of live music can be transformational. Let’s spread the word and make sure these concerts are sold out.”
The board and musicians would like to thank the public for their overwhelming support over the past year. Those wishing to donate to the KWS may do so by visiting the KWS Canada Helps page here, or www.CanadaHelps.org and searching for The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra Association Inc. Your donations will help fund concerts and create a strategic vision and structure for the future of the symphony to continue its legacy of providing live orchestral performances to enrich the community. Tax receipts will be issued for all donations over $20.00.
About the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Founded in 1945, at its peak the KWS consisted of 52 professional musicians performing close to 90 concerts during a 38-week season, and was regularly heard across Canada on CBC Radio Two. On September 22, 2023, after 78-years of enriching the arts and culture of the Waterloo region, it was announced that the KWS had declared bankruptcy and ceased operations due to the financial impact of the pandemic on live performances. The orchestra has been supported by the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the City of Kitchener and the City of Waterloo, and by individual donors and corporate sponsors.
For additional information please contact:
[email protected]
or visit www.kwsymphony.com
