“It’s official. The Tulare County Symphony will now be called the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra,” reads an unsigned Wednesday (5/31) article in the Foothills Sun-Gazette (Exeter, Calif.). “After a year of getting comments from the musicians, audience and community, the Tulare County Symphony Association voted to change its name at its annual meeting May 24 at the home of the symphony, the Visalia Fox Theatre. The orchestra was begun as a small, all-volunteer community orchestra in 1960…. Fifty-seven years later, the orchestra has grown into a highly professional orchestra. Music Director Bruce Kiesling said the name should reflect the quality of the music. Kiesling gave two main reasons for recommending the name change at the annual meeting. First, the new name reflects the heightened level of artistic excellence. Today’s orchestra is a professional, paid organization that draws musicians from outside Tulare County…. When the orchestra applies for much-needed grants, the new name reflects a more professional image of regional importance. Five or six California orchestras have changed their name, getting rid of the word ‘county.’ … ‘We did a lot of research with the Symphony League and founders of the orchestra to make sure we would not offend. There was overwhelming support,’ Kiesling said.”
Posted June 6, 2017
