The Greater Bridgeport Symphony has been a cornerstone of the cultural community in and around Bridgeport since its inception as a WPA Arts Program Project in 1934. After the war, it was formally organized and funded by the large industries and businesses that once dominated Bridgeport. Through its illustrious Music Directors — Daniel Saidenburg, Jonel Perlea, Jose Iturbi, Gustav Meier (for 42 sea
sons) and Eric Jacobsen (the past 9 seasons)
GBS has established a high standard for orchestral music in the region, and is a growing force for music education in Bridgeport’s schools. The GBS is a professional orchestra that typically presents five mainstage concerts each season, in addition to chamber music. The orchestra’s recent projects include “Blue as the Turquoise Night,” an album in collaboration with members of the Silkroad Ensemble, video projects with Colin Jacobsen and Simone Porter, and concert performances with world-class artists including Gil Shaham and Yuja Wang. GBS presents educational programming in the Bridgeport Public Schools and offers a variety of grant and donor-funded music education programs for students of all ages. During the pandemic, GBS presented live outdoor concerts, as well as a full-orchestra virtual season in 2020-21, returning to a full season of in-person, indoor concerts in late 2021. GBS is proud to announce that Eduardo Leandro will lead the orchestra in our five season concerts in 2023-24 as our Principal Guest Conductor. The season’s theme is BUILDING BRIDGES: bridges between the many cultures in our community, bridges between classical and new music, and a bridge from our nine amazing seasons with Eric Jacobson into our bright future. GBS looks to a future of even greater immersion in the diverse community we call home, presenting the best of the classics with new music, enhancing the Greater Bridgeport region as a flourishing cultural center in Connecticut.
