Whidbey's Saratoga Orchestra

Mission

Whidbey's Saratoga Orchestra 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. 

Description

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:
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/

We are proud of our Educational Initiative Programs (EIP). These programs have grown exponentially over the past several years and have become the keystone in carrying out our mission.

Educational Initiative Programs include:
*Link Up - A joint partnership with Carnegie Hall, SOWI and local Whidbey Island elementary schools.
*Talent Development Program - A mentorship program for highly qualified high school students.
*Instrument Petting Zoo and Family Concerts - Kids and kids at heart can get up close and personal with instruments of the orchestra.
*Masterclasses with world-class professionals - Free of charge to students
*Performance collaborations with local music and dance students as wells as adult community ensembles.

Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute
Each summer, Saratoga Orchestra welcomes the world to the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute. The six-day orchestral conducting workshop is led by Music Director Anna Edwards and guests, and features generous amounts of podium time for Active Conductor participants, networking events, and special topic discussion sessions geared toward the "business" of conducting. Past participants have traveled from Australia, Hong Kong, Finland, New York, Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, and California.

Percussion on the Rock is a one-of-a-kind experience for percussionists, music educators, 20th century music enthusiasts and those simply eager to learn about “artful noise”.  Uniquely designed as a two-fold experience, participants explore classic percussion ensemble repertoire through both historical and performance contexts.

History
Whidbey's Saratoga Orchestra, 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 brought national attention to the ensemble for its innovative programming, especially championing BIPOC and women composers.