Oral History Interview with Stanger, Russell

Russell Stanger served as musical director of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra from 1966 to 1980. In 1982, he began serving as the music director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts at Saratoga. Maestro Stanger has been the artistic advisor of the Miyazaki (Japan) Symphony Orchestra and has conducted the Kyushu (Japan) Orchestra in the performance of two of his own works. He also served as a guest conductor with a number of renowned orchestras including: the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Bilbao (Spain) Symphony, and the London Philharmonic. Stanger was born in Arlington, Massachusetts on May 8, 1924 and died in Norfolk on January 6, 2015. Part 1 of a 2-part oral history interview conducted with Russell Stanger in the Diehn Composers Room at Old Dominion University for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In part one of the interview, Russell Stanger, discusses his tenure as musical director of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra including programing, performing artists, the integration of the orchestra, labor relations, the board of directors, and the Tidewater Choral Association. 0:39:00

Russell Stanger served as musical director of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra from 1966 to 1980. In 1982, he began serving as the music director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts at Saratoga. Maestro Stanger has been the artistic advisor of the Miyazaki (Japan) Symphony Orchestra and has conducted the Kyushu (Japan) Orchestra in the performance of two of his own works. He also served as a guest conductor with a number of renowned orchestras including: the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Bilbao (Spain) Symphony, and the London Philharmonic. Stanger was born in Arlington, Massachusetts on May 8, 1924 and died in Norfolk on January 6, 2015. Part 1 of a 2-part oral history interview conducted with Russell Stanger in the Diehn Composers Room at Old Dominion University for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In part one of the interview, Russell Stanger, discusses his tenure as musical director of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra including programing, performing artists, the integration of the orchestra, labor relations, the board of directors, and the Tidewater Choral Association.

Russell Stanger served as musical director of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra from 1966 to 1980. In 1982, he began serving as the music director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts at Saratoga. Maestro Stanger has been the artistic advisor of the Miyazaki (Japan) Symphony Orchestra and has conducted the Kyushu (Japan) Orchestra in the performance of two of his own works. He also served as a guest conductor with a number of renowned orchestras including: the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Bilbao (Spain) Symphony, and the London Philharmonic. Stanger was born in Arlington, Massachusetts on May 8, 1924 and died in Norfolk on January 6, 2015. Part 2 of a 2-part oral history interview conducted with Russell Stanger in the Diehn Composers Room at Old Dominion University for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In part two of the interview, Russell Stanger, discusses the construction and opening of Chrysler Hall, career highlights, and the orchestra merger. 0:29:00

Russell Stanger served as musical director of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra from 1966 to 1980. In 1982, he began serving as the music director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts at Saratoga. Maestro Stanger has been the artistic advisor of the Miyazaki (Japan) Symphony Orchestra and has conducted the Kyushu (Japan) Orchestra in the performance of two of his own works. He also served as a guest conductor with a number of renowned orchestras including: the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Bilbao (Spain) Symphony, and the London Philharmonic. Stanger was born in Arlington, Massachusetts on May 8, 1924 and died in Norfolk on January 6, 2015. Part 2 of a 2-part oral history interview conducted with Russell Stanger in the Diehn Composers Room at Old Dominion University for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In part two of the interview, Russell Stanger, discusses the construction and opening of Chrysler Hall, career highlights, and the orchestra merger.

Photograph of Russell Stanger taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.