Musicians of the symphony are comprised of volunteers ranging from talented and exceptional students to professionals. We are a community-based organization that has reached out to 25 towns in Northwest Connecticut, Southern Massachusetts, and into Eastern New York. The symphony affords musicians the opportunity to express their artistic needs while encouraging young performers to continue through the playing of orchestral music.
Founded in the spring of 1961 by two area musicians, William J. Khoury and Victor Muschell, the symphony’s first concert was April 11, 1961 at the Warner Theatre. Since then, the symphony has performed classical and popular music to the delight of audiences from Litchfield and northern New Haven counties.
Torrington Symphony Orchestra is a volunteer-run, non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Its mission is to promote interest in and appreciation of symphonic and other music through performance and related programs for the enjoyment, betterment, and benefit of the community. The symphony provides a vehicle for amateur, semi-professional and professional instrumentalists to study and perform the finest possible examples of standard symphonic repertoire in a serious and congenial environment. We also encourage talented young musicians to perform with us in an effort to raise their musical skills. The symphony is supported by ticket sales, private, business, and corporate donations and grants.
The 45-plus amateur and professional musicians are drawn from 25 Connecticut towns, New York, and Massachusetts for Wednesday evening rehearsals. Currently, the four early concerts include collaborations with choral groups and professional soloists adding an exciting dimension to the season. The symphony has an impressive music library encompassing music from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods as well as contemporary, pop, and show tunes.
Torrington Symphony Orchestra is the only full symphonic orchestra in northwest Connecticut. The Symphony is a C.E.U. (Continuing Educations Units) provider for teachers. A unique aspect of this symphony is that gifted young students sit side by side with professional musicians at rehearsals and concerts. Torrington Symphony Orchestra also provides scholarships to students who participate in all the season’s concerts and rehearsals.
Our Conductor Maurice Steinberg
Maurice Steinberg has the conductor for the Torrington Symphony Orchestra since 2008, and has been a public-school music teacher for 45 years. He retired from the Litchfield Public School system in 2006 after 33 years of teaching service and retired from Wamogo High School in 2015 after 9 years of teaching service. He has also been a music teacher at Manchester High School in Manchester Connecticut and Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine Maryland. Maurice was the conductor for the Litchfield Chamber Orchestra from 1995 to the end of the 2000 season. He has also been very actively involved in musical theater as a director and/or musical director at Litchfield High School, The Phoenix Stage Company, The Goshen Players, The Thomaston Opera House, Wamogo High School, The Washington Dramalites, Manchester Little Theater, and other theater groups. He lives in Litchfield with his lovely wife Beth who is very actively involved in community and school theater projects, and their two cats Morris and Kodak. Their daughter Rebecca, who is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music lives in Manhattan with her husband Owen. Rebecca, a trumpeter and Owen, a trombonist are both very successful self-supporting musicians in NYC. Maurice and Beth’s son Michael, a fine guitarist and songwriter lives with his wife Ashley in New Hartford, Connecticut, and are the proud parents of 3 year old twin girls, Sage and Shiloh.
Torrington Symphony Orchestra
The Torrington Civic Symphony, Inc.
Officers and Members of Board of Directors
Fiscal Year June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025
OFFICERS
Harris C. Daigle, President
Constance Perna, Vice President
Suzanne T. Reynaud, Recording Secretary
Vanessa Hammond, Treasurer
Chuck Carlin, Social Media
Karl Gallmeyer, Librarian
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Baum
Chuck Carlin
Suzanne Cristina
Robert Fragione
Angelo Lamonica
HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS
The Honorable Judge Elizabeth Bozzuto
The Honorable Judge Charles D. Gill
Carol Marine
Ms. Anne L. Ruwet
We thank our volunteer officers and directors for their unending support and guidance.
Torrington Symphony Orchestra Association
Betsy Beyer, Chair
Carol Kijek
Anne Inman
Nicole Fragione
Carol Anderson
Maria Fragione
Abigail Fragione
Dan Randall
Angelo LaMonica
Colleen Stradtman
Stephen Taylor
Becky Testa Taylor
Tony Reynaud