Erie Philharmonic
# Erie Philharmonic

Founded in 1913, the Erie Philharmonic is a professional orchestra located in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Philharmonic has held their performances at the 2,500 seat Warner Theatre on State Street in downtown Erie since 1974.

## History

The musicians union attempted to form a symphonic orchestra in the late 1890s, but there was no popular support in Erie and the effort died. Another attempt to produce a symphony occurred in April 1913, when a group of 40 to 50 musicians rehearsed for months for a performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite. The concert never took place.

It was only months later, on 30 November 1913, that the Erie Symphony Orchestra, Erie Phil's earliest iteration, was born. It lasted just over two years, with its final concert held on 20 February 1916. On 30 January 1921, the orchestra was reorganized as the Second Symphony Orchestra. It lasted five years, with its final concert held on 2 May 1926.

The First Philharmonic held its first concert on 8 February 1921. The Second Philharmonic held its first concert on 7 February 1932. The Erie Phil disbanded for the duration of World War II, then incorporated on 23 September 1947. It has performed in Erie ever since.

The Erie Philharmonic Chorus was formed in 1953, and the Erie Junior Philharmonic was established in 1947.

The Erie Phil received a US$15,000 grant from the Erie Community Foundation to publicize its effort to find a new conductor for the orchestra.

## Music directors

| 1913-1916 Franz Kohler 1920-1926 Henry B. Vincent 1931-1947 John R. Metcalf 1947-1953 Fritz Mahler 1953-1967 James Sample 1967-1973 John A. Gosling | 1973-1976 Harold Bauer 1976-1990 Walter Hendl 1990-1995 Eiji Oue 1996-2000 Peter Bay 2000-2006 Hugh Keelan 2007–present Daniel Meyer |
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