Red Deer
Red Deer Symphony Orchestra invites you to the 2024-2025 season!
The Red Deer Symphony Orchestra is a community-oriented professional performing arts leader dedicated to engaging, educating, and inspiring Central Alberta through music.
Despite a successful 2023-24 season featuring diverse musical performances and collaborations, the RDSO faces funding cuts and has launched an advocacy campaign for new operational funds. Historically supported by the City of Red Deer, recent policy changes have reduced available grants, impacting the orchestra’s budget and programming. Donations to the RDSO are being accepted online.
Join us with a Full Season Subscription!
The most music for the best price!
Not only do full-season subscribers get the first pick of the best seats, they also hear the most music for the best price. Buy a full-season subscription and you’ll receive all SIX of our Main Series concerts for the price of FIVE – you get an evening of Red Deer’s finest live music for free!
Full-season subscribers have the opportunity to save their seats before anyone else, and receive “Subscribers Only” benefits throughout the season. Additionally, subscribers receive $10 off extra single tickets: you can bring friends and share the music with them too!
Four-Concert Subscription
Curate your own season!
RDSO offers four-concert subscriptions for those who prefer to curate their own season, so you can enjoy a selection of RDSO’s exciting 2023-24 performances and get the satisfaction of knowing that you are actively supporting Central Alberta’s flagship performing arts organization!
Choose any four of RDSO’s six 2024-25 Main Series Concerts and save your seat in the concert hall!
Three-Concert Subscription
Curate your own season!
RDSO offers three-concert subscriptions for those who prefer to curate their own season, so you can enjoy a selection of RDSO’s exciting 2023-24 performances and get the satisfaction of knowing that you are actively supporting Central Alberta’s flagship performing arts organization!
Choose any three of RDSO’s six 2024-25 Main Series Concerts and save your seat in the concert hall!
In 1987, the population of this fair city was just under 55,000 and the Red Deer College Arts Centre had just opened its doors when a gentleman by the name of Howard Mar took his vision of a community symphonic orchestra in Red Deer, enlisted the financial support to the tune of $165,000 from Red Deer’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch #35, rallied his friends and fellow patrons of the arts, gathered a group of musicians both amateur and professional and… created the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra!
Dr. Alan Johnson, former head of Obstetrics at the RDRHC and the first president of the RDSO said of the beginning: “It was mostly Howard, really. As far as my involvement was concerned and you can quote me – I’ve been at many deliveries before but this one has got to be one of the biggest.” Mr. Mar was the parent; the community delivered and nurtured the creation.
There have been many changes in the last three decades: the population has grown and so has your symphony. Under the creative and talented guidance of Maestro Claude Lapalme, the caring guardianship of many, many board members and volunteers throughout the years, the support of numerous patrons, sponsors and funding agencies, the RDSO has matured from a community based, semi-professional orchestra to a fully professional symphony orchestra, employing union musicians. We have moved from a four-concert season with a budget of $71,000 and an apprenticeship program, to a seven-concert season with a budget of over $500,000 and a range of musical education experiences.
Our community programs include the Dress Rehearsal program that is aimed at making the RDSO accessible to anyone, the Choir Kids program (where children in the Red Deer schools get a chance to publicly perform their songs arranged by our Maestro and played by the symphony); and the budding Music + Explorers program, which is an El Sistema-inspired after school social development program that uses music as a lever to engage socio-economically challenged kids in North Red Deer in creative and artistic activities that improve their quality of life.
Although much has changed, much has also remained the same. We are still run by a volunteer board that works very hard to keep the music playing. We are still financially reliant on the generosity of our local patrons and businesses. We still hold to the original vision of providing educational experiences with symphonic music for central Alberta. We still share the stage with amateur musicians, groups from around the area such as the Red Deer Royals, the Red Deer College Choir, the Lindsay Thurber Composite High School’s choirs, the Rosedale Valley Strings, Soliloquy, and the Red Deer Youth Orchestra.
2019 Canada Winter Games
Red Deer’s Lyn Radford joins new Chair Catriona Le May Doan on Canada Games Council
News release from the Canada Games Council
Hall of Fame Athlete Elected Chair of Canada Games Council Board of Directors
The Canada Games Council (CGC) is thrilled to announce the election of Canadian sport legend Catriona Le May Doan as Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. Joining Le May Doan in officer positions are Vice-Chair Sean O’Donnell, Treasurer Sheri Somerville and Secretary Lyn Radford.
“I am very excited and honoured to be taking on the role of Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Le May Doan. “I have been a part of the Canada Games Movement for almost 42 years. The Canada Games were my first multi-sport Games and had a huge impact on my career and I continue to believe in and witness the power of the Canada Games in building sport in our country, but also strengthening our communities.”
A three-time Olympic medallist and icon in Canadian speed skating, Le May Doan is a true champion on and off the field of play. She is a tireless ambassador for the transformational power of sport and a distinguished member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canada Games Hall of Honour.
A Canada Games alum in both speed skating and athletics for Team Saskatchewan, Le May Doan is currently the President and CEO of Sport Calgary. She recently served as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission at the Olympic Winter Games in 2022.
A longtime CGC board member, Le May Doan takes over the reins from outgoing Chair Evan Johnston, who is stepping down after 10 years on the board as he takes on the new role as President and CEO of The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company in January.
“On behalf of the entire Canada Games family, I’d like to thank Evan for his decade of volunteer service to the Canada Games Movement and his invaluable guidance and mentorship to our CGC Board and staff as Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, CGC President and CEO. “We are thrilled to welcome Catriona at the helm and know her strategic leadership will continue to solidify the foundation of our organization so that the Canada Games strengthen the fabric of our nation from coast to coast to coast.”
“I hope to continue the great work that Evan has done and I thank him for his leadership,” said Le May Doan. “I am looking forward to working with the incredible CGC team and our network of partners for the upcoming Games in St. John’s next summer, and then in Quebec City in 2027, where we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Games. Together, we will continue to spark greatness in Canadians through the Canada Games.”
Those filling the remaining officer positions have all been on the CGC Board since 2022.
O’Donnell brings extensive executive experience in the federal public service and the Canadian sport system to the Vice-Chair role. Somerville is a business executive, entrepreneur, and award-winning PR consultant, all of which will serve her well as Treasurer. Radford brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in revenue generation for non-profit and sport organizations, as well as a Host Society leadership lens, to the role of Secretary.
The next Canada Summer Games take place from August 8-25, 2025 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, while the next Canada Winter Games will unfold in Quebec City from February 27 to March 14, 2027.
About the Canada Games Council
The Canada Games Council, a private, non-profit organization, is the governing body for the Canada Games. Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up and coming Canadian athletes. The Games have been hosted in every province at least twice since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system, in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity. The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the tireless dedication of local Host Societies and the contribution and support of the federal, provincial/territorial and host municipal governments.
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