Mission & History
Our Mission
The Sedona Symphony is committed to enriching the quality of life of our Northern Arizona community through the power of live orchestral music that educates, entertains and inspires.
2002
The Verde Valley Chamber Orchestra, a precursor to the Verde Valley Sinfonietta, which became Sedona Symphony in 2023, was begun informally in September, 2002 by Lelia Schoenberg, violinist and former arts administrator, and Dr. Tom Leenhouts, cellist and retired ophthalmologist. In 2002 Dr. Leenhouts was named Philanthropist of the Year by the Sedona Community Foundation and contributed his award to founding the ensemble. Together Lelia and Tom recruited well-known northern Arizona conductor and violinist Clarence Shaw as the organization’s first Music Director.
Our History
Dr. Tom Leenhouts
Lelia Schoenberg
2005-2006
While initially sponsored by Yavapai College’s Sedona Center for Arts & Technology, beginning with the 2005-2006 season the Verde Valley Chamber Orchestra witnessed a "rebirth." Schoenberg and Leenhouts, joined by concertmaster and retired arts administrator Marion Maby, applied for and received the orchestra's non-profit tax-exempt corporation status in November, 2005. They hired Dr. Sean Paul Mills as Music Director, and refocused the Mission Statement, all under the new name of Verde Valley Sinfonietta. The orchestra's home base became the Church of the Red Rocks, in Sedona.
The mission was: "to contribute to the quality of artistic and cultural life in the Sedona-Verde Valley community through the presentation of high-quality live performances of the best in music literature for small orchestra.” The Sinfonietta pursued its mission with particular interest in cultivating new audiences for classical music among young families and retirees of limited means in the spirit of building community and educational enrichment.
The Sinfonietta’s first concert in January of 2006 at the Church of the Red Rocks, featured Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra trumpet soloist Cindy Gould. This inaugural season consisted of two programs of Mozart and Haydn at the Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona. Schoenberg and Maby continued their leadership roles after the death of Dr. Leenhouts.
Marion Maby
2007-2020
In its 2006-2007 season, the Sinfonietta began a major fundraising effort to support its Community and Youth Outreach Programs. Marion Maby instigated the Emerging Artist Concert which presented gifted high school and university level musicians working toward professional careers.
The 2007-2008 season saw the departure of Sean Mills as music director and a change of concert venue to the Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Sedona. David Cripps, conductor and retired principal horn of the London Symphony was hired as the Music Director.
The next five seasons fully established Verde Valley Sinfonietta as an increasingly valued cultural and educational asset. With the help of grantors and individual contributors, the Sinfonietta expanded its programming and its educational outreach.
After the departure of Maestro Cripps, the Sinfonietta welcomed Russell Fox to the podium for the 2014 -2016 seasons. The 10th Anniversary season (2014-2015) was one of celebration, culminating with an exciting performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue by an emerging artist from Arizona. The Sedona Performing Arts Center (SPAC), became the Sinfonietta’s performance venue at that time, as a response to the increasing size of its audiences.
After a year of audition concerts by Music Director candidates, Kevin Kozacek was selected and began his tenure in 2017. During Kozacek’s tenure the Board of Trustees initiated a highly successful pledge program with the goal of building a reserve fund equal to a year’s expenses. This has enabled hiring of world-class soloists, fully funding competitive salaries for Sinfonietta musicians, and expanding repertoire selections. A highlight of the 2019 season was a school day performance of “Peter & the Wolf” at SPAC for Sedona and Verde Valley school children.
The mission statement of the Sedona Symphony was revised in 2019 to more clearly reflect its professional quality and stature in the community.
The 15th anniversary season and beginning of the 16th season were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Sinfonietta resumed performing to reduced-size audiences in April and May of 2020, while strictly observing pandemic protocols.
Moving Forward
2020-Present
Maestro Kozacek announced his plans to retire at the end of the ’21-22 season. The Sinfonietta began a global search to find a replacement. Out of a field of 99 applicants for the Music Director position, the search committee narrowed the choices down to four candidates, each of whom conducted one of our ’22-23 season concerts. It was an exciting year with four very different concerts. We appreciate all the audience input received. The board of trustees ultimately chose the astounding Janna Hymes to be our new Artistic Director/Conductor.
At the same time, we decided to change our name to Sedona Symphony to provide better name recognition and honor our home.
With equal enthusiasm and gratitude, we acknowledge and thank all who have supported VVS and the Sedona Symphony through its 20 years of music making. It is these supportive contributions in every form that will allow Sedona Symphony to continue bringing the treasures of live orchestral music to the greater Sedona area and Northern Arizona community.
Janna Hymes, Artistic Director