The Erie Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Bruce Morton Wright, serves as a vital cultural resource for the Erie, Pennsylvania and surrounding communities. The Erie Chamber Orchestra has been very successful in its mission of presenting "free admission" concerts to the community it serves. Founded in 1978 through the financial support of Mr. Clarence E. Beyers, the Orchestra has filled a musical void and allows many disadvantaged members of the Erie community to attend concerts. These participants often could not attend ticketed concerts due to financial problems. Our audience members are often first time concert goers, families with smaller children, school students, the physically and mentally challenged. We also encourage the attendance of the minority population with such annual tribute concerts to Dr. Martin Luther King.

The Erie Chamber Orchestra moved into residency at Gannon University in 1982. Under the leadership of Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. the Orchestra has become part of the University's cultural service to the Erie community. Gannon University provides a major sponsorship for the activities of the Erie Chamber Orchestra

It is the premise of our organization that anyone can learn to enjoy classical music, if they only have the opportunity to have contact with it. The Erie Chamber Orchestra reaches out to the community with performances in concert halls, churches, schools, synagogues, and parks. Over the years, our audience has continued to grow with an "ever-increasing" number of families with younger children. The orchestra performs a diverse repertoire of music which are often premiere works or seldom performed works in our area. The Erie Chamber Orchestra has become the reality of its financial founder's dream  "to serve all of the residents of this community."

The Erie Chamber Orchestra personnel consists of twenty-five to fifty-five professional musicians from the tri-state area who have been performing to enthusiastic and expanding audiences since the founding of the orchestra in 1978.
 

The Cable News Network Broadcasted a featured story about the Erie Chamber Orchestra. For further information on this special event please click here.   

The Funding sources of the Erie Chamber Orchestra

Gannon University

The Clarence E. Beyers Music Fund of the ArtsErie Fund For the Arts

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

The Erie Musician's Union Local 17

Local business and community contributions

There are those who believe that in challenging economic times, arts organizations are “frills” we can live without.  But that's wrong.  We need our arts organizations because they reach more than 400,000 people each year. And we need them because the vital signs of any community must include the health of its arts organizations. They are part of the mosaic that makes our region’s economic engine run. They help us attract and keep jobs.

Plus, the arts affect some 500 jobs and generate $15 million a year in economic activity. And they face a crisis of survival because of funding cuts from every direction. The $300,000 goal for this year's Arts Erie United Fund drive will help keep theater lights lit and music playing. It will help our economy recover.

But it won’t happen without your investment. Please invest today so your arts organizations can continue to play an essential role in what makes Erie a special place to live, work and play. Visit www.artserie.org today or call ArtsErie at 452-3427. 

The people behind the Erie Chamber Orchestra
The following persons have made it possible for the Erie Chamber  Orchestra to continue it's cultural mission serving the Erie community.

Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. Ph.D -  President-Gannon University
 

   Clarence E. Beyers - Financial Founder of the Erie Chamber Orchestra
 

   Bruce Morton Wright - Director of the Erie Chamber Orchestra

  Erie Chamber Orchestra Personnel

    Annmarie George - Program Note Writer

The Erie Chamber Orchestra 2009-2010 Music Season:
The mission of the Erie Chamber Orchestra is to provide a series of live quality orchestra performances "free of admission charge" to the Erie area. It is our intention to not only provide a cultural service, but to use these presentations as an educational tool in the personal development of our audience's appreciation of classical music.
     The Wright Family Page, "things I would like to share with you"

 "The Conductor's Club" and "PMEA - Guest Conductor"

     The "up-coming concert" & "Special Events
    The Erie Chamber Orchestra 2009 - 2010 Season Calendar of Events
  Information on how to support the Erie Chamber Orchestra and receive "notices" of each upcoming concert

   Our 2009- 2010 Season -"Meet the Soloist"/ Martin L King Tribute Concert

                Our past Guess the Composer Winners

 The State Theatre Orchestra of Hildesheim -Hildesheim, Germany

      Radio Broadcasts of the Erie Chamber Orchestra

                           Next Broadcast - To Be Announced

     Our past "Meet the Soloist" and  "Guess the Composers" Concert Winners/ Martin Luther King, Jr, Concert

  Erie Opera Theatre 2009 -Amahl & 2010 -"The Barber of Seville"

   The Gannon University Concert Band 2009-2010

     Latest Awards Received by Bruce Morton Wright

   "Music in the Air" Summer concert Series 2010 Information

     Bemus Bay Pops Orchestra - Director Bruce Morton Wright

     Performed 2008 - 2009 Concert Series Information

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