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St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

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Black and white photograph of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra on stage, ca. 1959.

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra on stage, ca. 1959.

In 1959, a new orchestra was formed in St. Paul in order to attract more people to downtown. The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) held their first concert on November 18, 1959, in the Central High School auditorium. Since their debut, the SPCO has won several awards and has become the only full-time chamber orchestra in the United States.

Orchestra music was popular in the mid-1950s. Minneapolis had a symphony orchestra and several chamber-sized string groups, including the Flor String Quartet, the Trio da Camera, and the Variation String Quartet. Some of the large downtown hotels had orchestras to provide music for dancing after dinner.

Although these groups existed, Ralph Burgard, president of the St. Paul Council of Arts and Sciences, thought that St. Paul needed another orchestra. He surmised that a chamber orchestra with professional musicians would draw people downtown because it was unique. Because it was smaller, it could succeed alongside the Minneapolis Symphony without competing for the same audience.

Burgard organized the St. Paul Philharmonic Society in 1958 and hired Leopold Sipe to lead its music groups a year later. Groups within the Philharmonic Society included the St. Paul Civic Orchestra, a music camp for young people, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. After the SPCO’s 1959 debut, John K. Sherman, a music critic for the Minneapolis Star, wrote that the new orchestra was producing some of the best recent music that originated in St. Paul. In another review, John H. Harvey noted that Minneapolis–St. Paul had gained something new, different, and very good.

A chamber orchestra is smaller than a symphony orchestra. While a symphony orchestra may have as many as ninety musicians, the SPCO debuted with thirty-one musicians and has remained close to that size throughout its existence.

Groups of this size play chamber music, so called because its players can fit into a single chamber. They can also perform in comparatively small settings such as churches, schools, and prisons. A New York Times reviewer noted that the SPCO’s success in small spaces was a result of the musicians’ ability to communicate with people of all ages and provided an example for similar orchestras.

Travel was less expensive for a small orchestra than for a full-size orchestra. Size may have worked in the SPCO’s favor when the U.S. State Department sponsored the group on a month-long tour of Eastern Europe in October 1974. A trip to the Soviet Union in autumn of 1975 was also sponsored by the State Department.

Without a large number of affluent private donors, finances were frequently tight for the SPCO. In each lean time, management usually found grants or endowments. In October 1993, however, Minnesota Public Radio sponsored a “radiothon” on behalf of the SPCO. This fund-raising drive, known as “S.O.S. (Save Our SPCO)” rescued the orchestra from bankruptcy. Fundraising on behalf of another organization was rare for a public radio station and required a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The event, however, proved effective; it raised a total of $700,000 in donations.

Most orchestras are led by a man or woman who serves as a music director. In 1987, however, Deborah Borda, the orchestra's president and managing director, made a decision that set the SPCO apart from other chamber orchestras. She chose to replace the outgoing music director, Pinchas Zukerman, with an artistic commission of three conductors, each with different roles. This innovative structure remained in place until the fall of 1992, when Hugh Wolff became the music director.

By 2004, another group leadership model was put in place by then-president Bruce Coppock. The artistic partners model consisted of two committees: the Artistic Vision Committee and the Artistic Personnel Committee. These committees include both musicians and conductors.

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Anthony, Michael. “Musical Chairs: Music Director? No. Artistic Vision Committee? Yes.” Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 23, 2004.

Henahan, Donal. “Carnegie is Host to Minnesotans: St. Paul Chamber Ensemble in Successful Program.” New York Times, February 21, 1969.

Hubbard, Rob. “Here’s to your 50th, SPCO, and Many Happy Returns.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 14, 2009.

Kenney, Dave. "50 Years of Music: The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra," Manuscript, [2008].
Description: The manuscript—a version of which was published by Nodin Press in 2009—is available at the Minnesota Historical Society Library under the call number ML28 .S14 S764. The manuscript includes footnotes and a bibliography not used in the published version.

Kenney, Dave, and Thomas Saylor. Minnesota in the 70s. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2013.

Kunz, Virginia Brainard. Saint Paul: A Modern Renaissance. Northridge, CA : Windsor Publications, 1986.

Johnston, Patricia Condon. “Bravo! SPCO wins a Grammy.” Roots 9, no. 1 (Fall 1980): 26–27.

Perachio, Glenn. “From Part-time Pick-up to Renowned Ensemble: The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Its First Ten Years—1959 to1970.” Ramsey County History 31, no. 2 (Summer 1996): 4–15.

Royce, Graydon. “Harmony at Last: SPCO Musicians Vote Yes.” Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 30, 2013.

Sherman, John K. “St. Paul Orchestral Unit Has Top Craftsmanship.” Minneapolis Star, December 3, 1959.

This Week in St. Paul, Vols. 1–2, no. 13: May 27, 1939–August 24, 1940.
Description: Available in the History Center library as F613.S1 T5, this bound volume contains weekly gossip columns and social news of events in St. Paul.

Van O’Connor, William, ed. A History of the Arts in Minnesota. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1958.

Related Images

Black and white photograph of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra on stage, ca. 1959.
Black and white photograph of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra on stage, ca. 1959.
Black and white photograph of the Philharmonic Society’s summer music camp where SPCO musicians provided hands-on instruction, ca. 1960s.
Black and white photograph of the Philharmonic Society’s summer music camp where SPCO musicians provided hands-on instruction, ca. 1960s.
Black and white photograph of the SPCO’s concert at Carnegie Hall, under conductor Leopold Sipe, 1969.
Black and white photograph of the SPCO’s concert at Carnegie Hall, under conductor Leopold Sipe, 1969.
Black and white photograph of a Music on the Move truck, 1970s.
Black and white photograph of a Music on the Move truck, 1970s.
Black and white photograph showing an advertisement for the SPCO’s international debut during a tour of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Romania in 1974.
Black and white photograph showing an advertisement for the SPCO’s international debut during a tour of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Romania in 1974.
Black and white photograph of the Mayor of Saint Paul, Lawrence Cohen, wishing the SPCO bon voyage on their tour of Eastern Europe, 1975.
Black and white photograph of the Mayor of Saint Paul, Lawrence Cohen, wishing the SPCO bon voyage on their tour of Eastern Europe, 1975.
Black and white photograph of the SPCO’s traveling wind ensemble at Saint Paul’s Pratt Elementary School, 1976.
Black and white photograph of the SPCO’s traveling wind ensemble at Saint Paul’s Pratt Elementary School, 1976.
Black and white photograph of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra recording at Sounds 80 Studio, 1978.
Black and white photograph of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra recording at Sounds 80 Studio, 1978.
Black and white photograph of SPCO musician Carolyn Daws working with local music students, 1983.
Black and white photograph of SPCO musician Carolyn Daws working with local music students, 1983.
Black and white photograph of the SPCO playing “The Star Spangled Banner” at its Ordway debut concert, 1985.
Black and white photograph of the SPCO playing “The Star Spangled Banner” at its Ordway debut concert, 1985.
Color poster of violinist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, ca. 1980–1987.
Color poster of violinist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, ca. 1980–1987.
Black and white photograph of Bobby McFerrin & SPCO at Groveland Park Elementary School in St. Paul, 1995.
Black and white photograph of Bobby McFerrin & SPCO at Groveland Park Elementary School in St. Paul, 1995.
Advertisement for concert featuring Bobby McFerrin and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, 1994.
Advertisement for concert featuring Bobby McFerrin and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, 1994.
Color image of the SPCO onstage at the new Ordway Concert Hall, 2015.
Color image of the SPCO onstage at the new Ordway Concert Hall, 2015.

Turning Point

In the 2004–2005 season, the SPCO returns to leadership by committee, a model tried in 1987. The leadership model in 1987 was an artistic commission; in 2004, it was a group of artistic partners. Although somewhat different, each of these models deviated from the standard orchestral leadership model of one music director.

Chronology

1959

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra holds its first concert, at Central High School auditorium, on November 18.

1969

The orchestra holds its first concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on February 20. In a review, the New York Times expresses some criticism but describes the performance as successful. Two pieces were favorably described as “sparkling”.

1969

In August, the “Music on the Move” initiative takes the orchestra to new audiences outside of the Twin Cities.

1974

Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, the orchestra makes its international debut in Eastern Europe in October.

1975

Again sponsored by the State Department, the orchestra embarks on a goodwill trip to cities in the Soviet Union in the fall.

1978

In the spring, the SPCO records Appalachian Spring at Sound 80 studios in Minneapolis using a new digital recording process recently invented at 3M.

1980

In February, the Appalachian Spring recording wins a Grammy award for Best Chamber Music Performance. It is the first Grammy for a commercial digital recording as well as the first Grammy for the SPCO.

1988

In the fall, the SPCO embarks on its initial season under the leadership of an artistic commission, a new organizational structure consisting of three music directors instead of one.

1993

Minnesota Public Radio holds “S.O.S. (Save our SPCO),” a radiothon fundraiser to save the SPCO from bankruptcy, in October. In thirty-five hours, the unique event raises $750,000, which allows the orchestra to stay solvent.

1994

THE SPCO is involved in the development of CONNECT (Chamber Orchestra’s Neighborhood Network of Education Curriculums and Teachers). The music education program is made available to students through a partnership with Minneapolis-and St. Paul-schools.

2004

In the fall, the orchestra presents its initial season under the artistic partners leadership model. This consists of two committees that include both musicians and conductors: the Artistic Vision Committee and the Artistic Personnel Committee.

2011

The orchestra begins a partnership with GTCYS, the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony.

2012

Labor contract negotiations in October result in SPCO management locking out musicians and canceling performances.

2013

After a 191-day lockout, the 2012–2013 season resumes on May 9.

2015

Ordway Concert Hall, the new home of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, opens on March 1 in downtown St. Paul.