MISSION STATEMENT
The Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island is a professional orchestra whose mission is to entertain, educate, and enrich the Whidbey Island community through music.
OUR OBJECTIVES and VALUES are:
The Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island is a professional orchestra whose mission is to entertain, educate, and enrich the Whidbey Island community through music.
OUR OBJECTIVES and VALUES are:
- to present a unique and varied musical repertoire, and to perform in a professional manner with the highest standard of artistic integrity;
- to enhance the awareness and reputation of Whidbey Island as a cultural destination;
- to collaborate with other artistic disciplines to augment and enhance the concert experience; and
- to foster and mentor exceptional local music students in study and performance.
Saratoga Orchestra is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our organization, not only as a priority but as a core value.
We will strive to:
Saratoga Orchestra acknowledges we live and create on the ancestral land of the Coast Salish and Lower Skagit people which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Tulalip, Snohomish, Swinomish, the Suquamish, and Stillaguamish Tribal nations.
We honor the inhabitants of the island of Tscha-kole-chy and its pre-colonial history.
For more information, please visit: https://southwhidbeyhistory.org/special-topics/the-native-peoples/
We will strive to:
- Feature performers, composers and leadership who embody and bring forward the diversity and richness of our musical community;
- Treat all who engage with this organization with respect, peace, equality, and kindness; and
- Celebrate and promote the lives and music of a wide and diverse spectrum of people to include race, gender, gender identity, creed, age, color, and sexual orientation.
Saratoga Orchestra acknowledges we live and create on the ancestral land of the Coast Salish and Lower Skagit people which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Tulalip, Snohomish, Swinomish, the Suquamish, and Stillaguamish Tribal nations.
We honor the inhabitants of the island of Tscha-kole-chy and its pre-colonial history.
For more information, please visit: https://southwhidbeyhistory.org/special-topics/the-native-peoples/
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BRIEF HISTORY
SARATOGA ORCHESTRA of Whidbey Island, was formed as an expansion of the Saratoga Chamber Players founded by Whidbey Island’s legendary violinist and arts supporter, Michael Nutt. Previously known as Saratoga Chamber Orchestra, the name is derived from the beautiful Saratoga Passage that flanks the east side of Whidbey Island and the stand of trees known as the Saratoga Woods. In 2007, Legh W. Burns, Music Director Emeritus, began a regular concert series performing throughout the island for Whidbey audiences. Anna Edwards has led the orchestra as Music Director since 2015, and has brought national attention to the ensemble for its innovative programming, especially championing women composers. |
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Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island receives National Recognition
Saratoga Orchestra, under the musical direction of Anna Edwards, was recently awarded a third place prize in the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music in the Professional Orchestra Division. Focused exclusively on works by American composers from any period and in any style, the contest not only judges performances and recording quality, but in the case of new or unfamiliar works, the music itself. |
Saratoga Passage, Salish Sea, Whidbey Island, Washington
IN MEMORIAM - LEGH W. BURNS
MUSIC DIRECTOR / CONDUCTOR EMERITUS
Legh W. Burns was the founding Music Director and Conductor of THE SARATOGA ORCHESTRA. He was bestowed the title of Professor Emeritus from the University of Oklahoma School of Music. A former first trumpet with the United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C., he founded and conducted the Washington Chamber Ensemble. Additionally, Mr. Burns taught at Springfield (IL) Junior College and the University of Denver, where he founded the National Trumpet Symposium and was founder and conductor of the Festival Chamber Orchestra of Denver.
Legh graduated from The University of Miami (FL) earning a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance. He studied with conductors and musicians, Pierre Monteux, Herbert Blomstedt, Richard Lert and Renee Longy.
Legh was very interested in the development of young musicians, having founded and conducted the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra and the Oklahoma Youth Symphonies and founding The Guy Fraser Harrison Academy for the Performing Arts. Youth orchestras under his direction toured in thirteen foreign countries, including a concert tour of The People's Republic of China in 1981. For this, he was awarded the Music in Education Award by the Governor of Oklahoma.
MUSIC DIRECTOR / CONDUCTOR EMERITUS
Legh W. Burns was the founding Music Director and Conductor of THE SARATOGA ORCHESTRA. He was bestowed the title of Professor Emeritus from the University of Oklahoma School of Music. A former first trumpet with the United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C., he founded and conducted the Washington Chamber Ensemble. Additionally, Mr. Burns taught at Springfield (IL) Junior College and the University of Denver, where he founded the National Trumpet Symposium and was founder and conductor of the Festival Chamber Orchestra of Denver.
Legh graduated from The University of Miami (FL) earning a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance. He studied with conductors and musicians, Pierre Monteux, Herbert Blomstedt, Richard Lert and Renee Longy.
Legh was very interested in the development of young musicians, having founded and conducted the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra and the Oklahoma Youth Symphonies and founding The Guy Fraser Harrison Academy for the Performing Arts. Youth orchestras under his direction toured in thirteen foreign countries, including a concert tour of The People's Republic of China in 1981. For this, he was awarded the Music in Education Award by the Governor of Oklahoma.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Anita Whitney, President Joyce Libby, Vice President Don Shearer, Sec./Treas. Karen Heather Avi Rostov Beth Schmidt Erica Montgomery Gary Wittlich Larry Heidel, Executive Director |