OUR UNIQUE HISTORY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjnLIokdKK4
The International Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1957 as a result of the amalgamation of the Port Huron String Ensemble (Michigan) and the Little Orchestra Society of Sarnia. Both communities realized they were too small to establish and support separate orchestras, but believed that a collaboration might work. Indeed it did, and so began the rich international co-operative venture that continues to this day. From a humble inception of only two concerts a year, the orchestra’s activities have evolved to a pre-pandemic season of twelve Series performances, several Cushion Concerts, Chamber Presentations, youth education concerts and a number of community events.
The International Symphony Singers were added in 1984 to facilitate the inclusion of oratorio, opera, Broadway and musical theatre into the orchestra’s programming options. Since that time, the Symphony Singers have added a new texture to the organization, taking part in several concerts each season.
In fall 2019 The ISObar, a downtown Sarnia performance/rehearsal/gallery space, opened and was home to regular live music performances for intimate area audiences. The intercession of Covid19 necessitated a shift in ISO operations, which have included; The ISObar Sessions, filmed episodes of ISO orchestra members performing in the ISObar space with singer-songwriters; the summer 2020 Thru The Looking Glass series, which placed musicians in the ISO front window for 10 Saturdays; and the Nexus Chamber Series, an online season of empty hall chamber performances on both sides of the Canada-US border.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Dinah Bianchi
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
Janet Carmody
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT
TBA
TREASURER
Roger Emery
SECRETARY
John Wiebe
PAST PRESIDENT
Liwordson Vijayabalan
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Dinah Bianchi
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Douglas Bianchi
CHORAL DIRECTOR
TBA
CONDUCTOR EMERITUS
Jerome David Summers
BOARD MEMBERS
John Omahony
Phelan Young
ISA Sarnia
TBA
ISA PORT HURON AREA
TBA
Orchestra and Singers Representatives
Kelly Wallraff
Ken Robinson
Heather Dunlop
CONDUCTOR & MUSIC DIRECTOR
– Photo by Lou Sprenger
A native of Windsor, Ontario, Douglas Bianchi holds a Bachelor of Music from Wayne State University and a Master’s Degree in Conducting from Oakland University. Prior to his position as an Associate Professor of Music for the past two decades at Wayne State, Douglas Bianchi taught in the public school sector, during which time he earned the title of “Teacher of the Year” (1987). His extensive conducting experience includes work in orchestral, choral, symphonic band, chamber, ballet, and musical theatre genres.
Orchestras he has led include: the Southfield Symphony; Lake St. Clair Symphony; Royal Oak Symphony; the Warren Symphony; the Wayne State Symphony, as well as international guest conducting collaborations with the Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra; considered one of the finest orchestras in Bulgaria, and the Otsu Philharmonic Orchestra of Japan. Maestro Bianchi also directed the highly regarded Warren Concert Band for twenty-five years
During a recent sabbatical from the University, Maestro Bianchi conducted a performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Romania; he authored a textbook for advanced conducting courses, and as an enthusiastic composer, whose works have been performed by a number of ensembles, he is a member of the Society of Composers, Inc
CONCERTMASTER
Our Concertmaster Sander Kostallari, originally from Albania, completed a scholarship degree at Wayne State University in 2000, graduating with a degree in violin performance. He studied violin with Geoffrey Applegate, orchestral and chamber music with Kypros Markou, and viola with Jim Vanvulkenberg. He has made solo appearances with Rochester Symphony and the WSU Symphony as well as the ISO, where he performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto in 2019. He is also a past winner of the WSU Concerto Competition winner (1996). He is also associate concertmaster at the Dearborn and Rochester symphonies, and a member of the Grand Rapids, Oakland and Warren symphonies.
THE ORCHESTRA
FIRST VIOLIN
*Sander Kostallari
Caitlin Mason
Florina Petrescu
Randy Dibblee
Joe Deller
Victoria Banks
Erin Zuchniewicz
SECOND VIOLIN
*Jason Bendler
Kelly Larochette
Monica Jackson
Anida Margariti
Ethnee Roodt
Deborah Smith
Moria Eslinger
Vic Cichonski
VIOLA
*Stephen Collins
James Greer
John Wiebe
Heather Riggs
Judith Dewitt
Nancy Kreusel
Sharon Stoner
CELLO
*Tim Nicolia
Mauricio Betanzo
Christian Sands
Micaela Muzzarelli
Ramon Garza
CONTRABASS
*Marlo Williams
Andrew Lloyd
Philip Rinke
Steve Tremblay
CLARINET
*Blake Stevenson
Kristen Moreno
OBOE
*Ann Lemke
Amy Kesler
FLUTE
*Tessa Catton
Jackie Fornari
PICCOLO
Jackie Fornani
ENGLISH HORN
Amy Kesler
BASSOON
*Phelan Young
Denise Chaulk
HORN
*Dinah Bianchi
Caleb Courtney
TRUMPET
*Ken Robinson
Patrick Hession
PERCUSSION
*Patricia Fisher
Mark Lumley
Warren Elder
Steve Kegler
HARP
Laura Palmieri
PIANO
Victoria Banks
TROMBONE
*Ken van Ewyk
Janet Carmody
TUBA
Anthony Flores
SYMPHONY SINGERS
The ensemble welcomes new voices! If you love to sing, please get in touch.
Open Auditions taking place next Season! Call (519) 337-7775 or (810) 984-8857 or email us [email protected]
ALTO
Anderson, Lenora
Chiles, Cecily
Corbett, Karen
Delsnyder, Sue
Graham, Nicee
Milligan, Tamara
Ohara, Trudy
Rigg-Garbaty, Barb
Tomiuk, Diane
West, Donna
Wildie, Siegie
Wist, Andrea
SOPRANO
Anema, Jane
Banks, Victoria
Broyles, Maria
Clarke, Charlotte
Denbak, Heather
Dunlop, Heather
Edwards, Sally
Kernohan, Carol
Kurtz-Alton, Anne
Nichols, Jill
Owens, Patti
Rozema, Lainey
Phillips, Mercine
Terpstra, Sharon
TENOR
Ciul, Tom
Norager, Tom
Wallace, Luke
Wallace, Mat
BASS
Bracewell, George
Emond, Ray
Goldberg, Lee
Hazely, Byron
Keyser, John
Priskorn, Dennis
Worthington, John
CONTACT US
International Symphony Orchestra
170 Christina Street North, Sarnia, ON, Canada N7T 5T9
800 Harker St. Port Huron, MI, 48060
Mailing Address:
PO Box 610242 Port Huron, MI, 48061-0242
Office Hours – Monday to Friday 9 am to 4 pm
Telephone Canada 519-337-7775
Telephone USA 810-984-8857
Tickets [email protected]
General Inquiries [email protected]
Mariana Gauta, Office [email protected]