Symphony Nova Scotia
A professional Canadian orchestra based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, presenting symphonic, popular, contemporary and community-oriented music.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Symphony Nova Scotia is a professional orchestra based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Its principal performance venue is the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium at the Dalhousie Arts Centre, although the orchestra also tours throughout Nova Scotia and performs with partners in education, dance, theatre, heritage and popular music. The organization presents conventional orchestral repertoire alongside contemporary Canadian works, film and multimedia projects, holiday productions, family programming and concerts with folk, Celtic, pop, rock, hip-hop and R&B artists. The orchestra was established in October 1983 under the direction of conductor Boris Brott and board president Brian Flemming, following the bankruptcy of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra earlier that year. It began with 13 full-time musicians and a short January-to-May season. The complement expanded rapidly, reaching approximately 39 musicians by 1987. In later years the organization has employed 37 full-time musicians and 16 administrative staff, while also engaging more than 150 contracted artistic, production and technical personnel for its broader activities. Symphony Nova Scotia inherited a substantial orchestral tradition. Halifax's first recognized orchestra was formed in 1897, and a professional Halifax Sinfoniette emerged in 1947 before becoming a second Halifax Symphony Orchestra in 1955. The latter was eventually combined with the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra to create the regional Atlantic Symphony Orchestra in 1968. That organization toured the four Atlantic provinces but faced rising costs, declining public and corporate support and a major labour dispute before entering bankruptcy in 1983. Symphony Nova Scotia was formed in that difficult environment as a new organization rather than as a simple continuation of the failed orchestra. The orchestra's artistic history includes music directors Boris Brott, Georg Tintner, Leslie Dunner, Bernhard Gueller and Holly Mathieson. Tintner led the ensemble from 1987 to 1994, overseeing recordings, touring in Ontario and Quebec, and community projects such as a Halifax Dance and Mermaid Theatre production of The Nutcracker. After a period of financial and artistic strain in the mid-1990s, the organization restructured rather than close. Musicians donated services for part of a provincial tour with Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster, administrative operations were reduced and reorganized, and public concerts and school visits were restored. Under Bernhard Gueller, who served as music director from 2002 to 2018, Symphony Nova Scotia renewed its emphasis on touring, including a regular concert series in Lunenburg. The orchestra also developed a reputation for stylistic flexibility. Its collaborations have included Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, Richard Wood, Buck 65, Owen Pallett, Dan Mangan, Jenn Grant, David Myles, Jill Barber, Hawksley Workman, Amelia Curran, Sarah Slean, Thorgy Thor and many other Atlantic Canadian and international artists. These projects position the orchestra as both a classical ensemble and a regional cultural institution capable of connecting orchestral music with contemporary audiences. Holly Mathieson became music director in January 2020 after guest-conducting engagements in 2018 and 2019. She was the first woman appointed to the position. The orchestra announced that the 2024–2025 season would be her final season as music director. Symphony Nova Scotia has also built a broad education and outreach portfolio, including school matinees, in-school concerts, open rehearsals, pre-concert talks, library programming, Adopt-a-Musician and Musical Munchkins. Its recordings have received East Coast Music Awards and other regional recognition, including awards for Delius, late Romantic repertoire and Scott MacMillan's MacKinnon's Brook Suite.
History
Symphony Nova Scotia emerged in 1983 after the collapse of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, a regional ensemble created in 1968 from the Halifax and New Brunswick symphonies. The Atlantic Symphony had achieved popularity across the four Atlantic provinces but was undermined by high operating costs, declining government and corporate support and a prolonged labour dispute. It declared bankruptcy in 1983. A new organization was created in October of that year with conductor Boris Brott and board president Brian Flemming at its center. The initial ensemble consisted of 13 full-time musicians and performed a limited January-to-May season. The number of musicians doubled during the second season, and the orchestra reached roughly 39 players by 1987. Brott remains the only Canadian appointed as the orchestra's music director. Georg Tintner succeeded Brott in 1987 and served as principal conductor until 1994, later becoming conductor laureate. During his tenure the orchestra made six recordings, toured Ontario and Quebec and expanded community outreach. Its Nutcracker production, created with Halifax Dance and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, became an example of the orchestra's collaborative approach. A 1992 Pure Gold fundraising event featuring Isaac Stern and Maureen Forrester raised $140,000. The period from 1994 to 1996 brought serious financial pressure. Government cutbacks, wage freezes and a shortened 27-week season did not prevent the projected accumulated deficit from reaching $900,000 by 1995. The board consulted staff and musicians and chose restructuring over closure. Musicians donated two weeks of services for a provincial tour with Natalie MacMaster, administrative operations were reduced and reorganized, and Raffi Armenian served as interim artistic director. Leslie Dunner subsequently became music director for the 1996–1997 season. The organization began restoring free public concerts and school visits in 1996–1997. After Dunner's departure, artistic decisions were shared among orchestra, staff and board members following Tintner's death in 1999. Simon Streatfeild became artistic advisor in 2000. Bernhard Gueller was announced as music director in 2002 and led the orchestra through 2018. His period included renewed provincial touring, the establishment of a regular Lunenburg series and continuing expansion of collaborations beyond the classical canon. Resident conductors included Dinuk Wijeratne, Martin MacDonald, Shalom Bard and Jonathan Govias. The orchestra's programming has combined Beethoven, Mozart, Delius and other standard repertoire with Canadian composers, Atlantic folk traditions, film music and contemporary popular artists. Recordings have appeared through CBC Records, CBC/Radio-Canada, Warner Music Canada, Naxos and other labels. The ensemble has received four East Coast Music Awards for classical music, as well as a Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia special recognition award. Holly Mathieson first guest-conducted Symphony Nova Scotia in 2018 and returned in 2019. She was appointed music director effective January 2020, becoming the first woman to hold that post. The orchestra stated that the 2024–2025 season would be her final season as music director. Throughout its history, Symphony Nova Scotia has retained a strong education and community mandate through school matinees, open rehearsals, pre-concert conversations, library programs, in-school concerts, Adopt-a-Musician and Musical Munchkins.
- 2020
Holly Mathieson takes office
[1]Mathieson became the orchestra's first female music director.
- 2002
Bernhard Gueller becomes music director
[1]Gueller began his inaugural season and led the orchestra until 2018.
- 1995
Financial restructuring
[1]Facing a projected accumulated deficit of $900,000, the orchestra restructured rather than cease operations.
- 1987
Georg Tintner begins leadership
[1]Tintner succeeded Brott and began a period marked by recordings, touring and expanded outreach.
- 1983
Symphony Nova Scotia founded
[1]Following the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra's bankruptcy, a new Halifax-based orchestra was established under Boris Brott and Brian Flemming.
- 1968
Atlantic Symphony Orchestra created
[1]The Halifax Symphony Orchestra and New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra were replaced by a 48-member regional orchestra serving the Atlantic provinces.
- 1897
First recognized Halifax orchestra formed
[1]The Halifax Symphony Orchestra was formed under conductor Max Weil, establishing an early predecessor in Nova Scotia's orchestral history.
Products and positioning
A versatile regional orchestra that combines standard symphonic repertoire with Canadian composition, Atlantic cultural traditions, popular-music collaborations, touring and accessible education programs.
Live performance · 1983
Mainstage orchestral concerts
The orchestra's core offering is a concert season presenting symphonic repertoire, concertos, Canadian works and contemporary compositions, primarily at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax.
Live performance · 1995
Cross-genre collaborations
Symphony Nova Scotia arranges and performs with folk, Celtic, pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B and singer-songwriter artists, connecting orchestral resources with Atlantic Canada's broader music culture.
Education · 1996
Education and outreach programs
Programs include school matinees, in-school concerts, open rehearsals, pre-concert chats, library performances, Adopt-a-Musician and Musical Munchkins for younger audiences.
Recorded music · 1990
Recorded repertoire
The orchestra has released recordings spanning Mozart, Beethoven, Delius, late Romantic repertoire, Canadian music, film-related projects and collaborations with Atlantic artists.
Marketing campaigns
- 1992Pure Gold
Halifax · Nova Scotia
A fundraising event featuring violinist Isaac Stern and contralto Maureen Forrester.
Outcome. The event raised $140,000 for the orchestra.
Brand decisions
2020
Appoint first female music directorOtherBackground
After guest-conducting appearances in 2018 and 2019, Holly Mathieson was selected as the orchestra's next music director.
Action taken
Mathieson began a three-year initial contract in January 2020.
Aftermath
She became the first woman to hold the orchestra's music director position; the 2024–2025 season was announced as her final season.
1995
Restructure rather than closeStrategyBackground
Severe public-funding cutbacks, a shortened season and cost controls left the organization forecasting a large accumulated deficit.
Action taken
The board consulted musicians and staff, reduced and reorganized administration, and accepted donated musician services for part of a provincial tour.
Aftermath
The orchestra continued operating, restored free public concerts and school visits, and appointed new artistic leadership.
Projected accumulated deficit. $900,000 projected deficit (1995)
Recent events
- 2024
Mathieson’s final season announced[1]
Leadership change
The orchestra announced that the 2024–2025 season would be Holly Mathieson’s last as music director.
- 2019
Holly Mathieson appointed music director[1]
Leadership change
Symphony Nova Scotia announced Holly Mathieson as its next music director, effective January 2020, following guest-conducting appearances.
Sources2 sources
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