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The Vector Wellington Orchestra plays an extensive role in the cultural life of Wellington City and the wider region, performing up to 100,000 people each year. The VWO presents a series of concerts in Wellington. Fostering young people's enjoyment of music is one of the orchestra's important contributions to the region through entertaining concerts to pre-school and primary school children and families. The Orchestra supports arts organisations in the Wellington region including the Royal Zealand Ballet and the NBR National Opera. Background Information
An elected Board governs the Vector Wellington Orchestra and General Manager, Diana Marsh, leads its administration. The Orchestra's principal sponsor is Vector and the main funding bodies are Creative New Zealand, Wellington City Council, New Zealand Community Trust and the Lion Foundation.
In 2000, the Vector Wellington Orchestra, formerly the NGC Wellington Sinfonia, celebrated its 25th anniversary yet the roots of this ensemble lie far deeper in the history of music making of New Zealand's capital city of Wellington.
The Alex Lindsay String Orchestra, named after its founder, came into being in 1948 and had a distinguished career until its demise in 1973. The termination of the orchestra coincided with the preparation of a report by John Hopkins, former Principal Conductor of the National Orchestra, for the Arts Council on the provision of orchestral services throughout New Zealand. The loss of the Alex Lindsay Orchestra, which supported opera, ballet and choral performance, was seen as a major blow to the region's musical activities and, upon Hopkins' recommendation, a new orchestra was established with the support of the Arts Council.
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