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History

Founded: 1945

Musicians: 52 players on staff

Length of Season: 38 weeks (September to May)

Venues:

• Centre In The Square, Kitchener
• Central Presbyterian Church, Cambridge
• Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, Kitchener
• First United Church, Waterloo
• Harcourt United Church, Guelph
• River Run Centre, Guelph

Music Directors:

• 2007 -
  Edwin Outwater
• 2001 - 2003
  Martin Fischer-Dieskau
• 1993 - 1999
  Chosei Komatsu
• 1971 - 1993
  Raffi Armenian
• 1960 - 1970
  Frederick Pohl
• 1945 - 1960
  Glenn Kruspe
  

History:

The KWS was formed in 1945, the brainchild of Dr. Glenn Kruspe, then-director of the Philharmonic Choir, who suggested forming an orchestra to play for a choir performance in April of that year. The performance was an overwhelming triumph, with over 2000 people in attendance. Spurred on by this success, the orchestra decided to stage a sold-out solo concert in October 1945. Until 1950, the orchestra performed three concerts every year. Between 1950 and 1972, there was a huge increase to 14 concerts per season. Today, the KWS performs over 90 concerts every season to a combined audience of over 90,000 concert-goers. Nationally acclaimed, the KWS is the cultural centrepiece of the Waterloo Region. Comprehensive school programs, free concerts at hospitals, soup kitchens, seniors’ homes and an annual free concert in Waterloo Park are offered every year to the community. The KWS also supports the activities of a Youth Orchestra Program, which involves five distinct ensembles: Preludium Strings, Youth Strings, Youth Sinfonia, Youth Orchestra and Valhalla Brass. Its musicians range in age from 8 to 24, and number over 100.