Introducing the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1971, the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra provides symphonic music at the highest degree of excellence through performance opportunities for regional musicians and educational programs for our community’s youth.

Audience members are delighted each year by the classical and pops concerts presented by the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra (WSO) in the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College. The WSO includes 65 to 70 experienced musicians from around the Cape Fear Region. Dr. Steven Errante is Conductor of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Music at University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

In addition to its concert series in the Wilson Center, the WSO provides both performance opportunities and an array of unique educational programs for Wilmington and Cape Fear Region residents through its Music For Youth education programs. These education programs include the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra, a Free Family Concert, the annual Richard R. Deas Young Artists Concerto Competition, and Artist-in-Residence Programs in area schools. The Music For Youth education programs impact 2,500 students in Southeastern North Carolina each year!
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The Symphony’s Impact on the Cape Fear Region

• ​A symphony orchestra is a sign of a mature, forward-thinking and comprehensive  community.
• A local symphony helps improve the quality of life and attractiveness of  a community.
• A community with the widest variety of cultural amenities has the  edge in:
  • attracting and retaining businesses,
  • enhancing images and community  relations,
  • attracting top notch employees and their families,
  • drawing tourists  and conventions,
  • creating markets for new business.
• WSO has grown into a multi-faceted asset for Wilmington and  the Cape Fear Region providing value in cultural arts and entertainment, music  education, economic development, identity and image, pride and prestige.
• The  WSO is local art that creates community connection, aids in  economic development, strengthens our region's shared identity and adds significantly  to the quality of life in southeastern North Carolina.
• WSO concerts provide a gathering point of community pride  for residents to be involved, engaged and connected with one of our region’s distinctive  local cultural treasures.
• Wilmington Symphony Orchestra's educational initiatives contribute to the life-long learning opportunities available to residents, especially for area youth.

​A Brief History

In 1971, Wilmington violinists Gaile Zack and Virginia Kusler delivered a home-made cherry pie to a skeptical music librarian named Spike Feenstra.   Mr. Feenstra had belonged to a local orchestra in the 1930's. When the orchestra was disbanded, he was entrusted with the remaining musical scores. Persistent but gentle urging had not persuaded Mr. Feenstra to lend his orchestral scores to these two earnest musicians. A cherry pie was their final attempt to win the music they needed to assemble Wilmington's first community orchestra. Fortunately, it worked.

Mrs. Zack and Mrs. Kusler had labored for months to establish the interest and support needed to build a successful orchestra. Once the music was available, Dr. Richard Deas, then Chairman of UNC-W's Music Department, and music professor William Adcock were eager to contribute their talents. Thirty-three volunteer musicians under the direction of Professor Adcock became the UNC-W Community Orchestra. The orchestra presented its first concert to the public on February 20, 1972. The free performance took place at Kenan Auditorium.  

Over the next decade, the number of performances doubled from two to four per season. The sophistication of the music and the technical skill so the musicians grew as well.  

After more than 10 years as the spiritual leader and musical director, Conductor William Adcock died on April 7, 1982. The baton was passed to Dr. Joe Hickman who led the orchestra through four more years of growth and improvement.

In 1986, Dr. Steven Errante took over as conductor of what had become the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Errante's keen understanding of orchestral interpretation introduced a new era of performance standards. Many performances later, the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra continues to grow and thrive under Dr. Errante's artistic direction.

In 1971, the enlightened persistence and expert culinary skills of Gaile Zack and Virginia Kusler persuaded one reluctant man that live classical music would make Wilmington a better place to live.  Today, we are all convinced.