Three decades of collective effort under Kent Nagano's direction established Berkeley's admittedly "regional" (meaning small) symphony orchestra as a major presence in adventurous, contemporary programming and support for local composers.
The news from Berkeley, where Joana Carneiro has been in charge for the past two years, is that the more things change, the more that distinction remains. $15,000 doesn't go far these days, but as the Berkeley Symphony received that portion of National Endowment for the Arts' 863 grants and $22.543 million in funding nationwide, it was turned into two commissions — from local composers (other than John Adams, great as the man is, but with a virtual monopoly on commissions).
Imaginative, entertaining, whimsical Steven Stucky and New Music Prophet Paul Dresher will contribute new works to be premiered during the 2012-2013 season. Stucky's collaboration will be an extended residency program over the course of the season, Dresher's work will feature two of his numerous invented instruments.
They are the Quadrachord, an instrument resembling a guitar, which can be plucked or bowed; and the Hurdy Grande, which resembles an oversized hurdy-gurdy. Both composers will also act as mentors for young artists participating in Berkeley Symphony's Under Construction project.
Berkeley Symphony has been recognized in seven of the past nine seasons with an award for Adventurous Programming from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). In addition to its subscription concerts and Under Construction new music series, Berkeley Symphony regularly partners with Cal Performances to provide music for visiting artists.
Berkeley Symphony's year-long Music in the Schools program reaches every public elementary school student in Berkeley. San Francisco public radio station KALW 91.7 FM is Berkeley Symphony's broadcast partner, airing all the orchestra's subscription concerts.