Announcing the dates for the 2023-24 Season

Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra
Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Home
  • Ways You Can Give
  • FAQ's
  • Contact Us
  • Sign Up
    • Join Us As A Partner
    • Join Our Team!
    • Join Our Mailing List!
  • Opportunities
    • The Community Events
    • The Future Stars
    • The Guild
  • News
    • The Ambassador Series
    • The Newsletters
    • The Press Releases
    • The Season
  • About Us
    • The Guest Soloists
    • The Leadership
    • The Maestro
    • The Musicians
    • The Partners
    • The Performance Venues
    • The Philharmonic
    • The Visitor Center
  • Library
    • The Fun Facts
    • The History of Foothills
    • The Virtual Performances
  • More
    • Home
    • Ways You Can Give
    • FAQ's
    • Contact Us
    • Sign Up
      • Join Us As A Partner
      • Join Our Team!
      • Join Our Mailing List!
    • Opportunities
      • The Community Events
      • The Future Stars
      • The Guild
    • News
      • The Ambassador Series
      • The Newsletters
      • The Press Releases
      • The Season
    • About Us
      • The Guest Soloists
      • The Leadership
      • The Maestro
      • The Musicians
      • The Partners
      • The Performance Venues
      • The Philharmonic
      • The Visitor Center
    • Library
      • The Fun Facts
      • The History of Foothills
      • The Virtual Performances
  • Home
  • Ways You Can Give
  • FAQ's
  • Contact Us
  • Sign Up
    • Join Us As A Partner
    • Join Our Team!
    • Join Our Mailing List!
  • Opportunities
    • The Community Events
    • The Future Stars
    • The Guild
  • News
    • The Ambassador Series
    • The Newsletters
    • The Press Releases
    • The Season
  • About Us
    • The Guest Soloists
    • The Leadership
    • The Maestro
    • The Musicians
    • The Partners
    • The Performance Venues
    • The Philharmonic
    • The Visitor Center
  • Library
    • The Fun Facts
    • The History of Foothills
    • The Virtual Performances

The History of Foothills Philharmonic

Our Founding: Victor Vallo, 2000-01

Growth as a Regional Organization: Gary Robinson, 2001-10

Growth as a Regional Organization: Gary Robinson, 2001-10

Foothills Philharmonic was founded in the early months of 2000 by a group of musicians who felt that a void in the community existed. At that time, there was not an outlet for community musicians to come together and perform orchestral music. 


Led by Len Clayton, the orchestra formed relatively quickly, commencing the inaugural season in the fall of 2000. That first season the orchestra was led by Dr. Victor Vallo, and the group had the official name of the Greenville Community Chamber Orchestra. The work done that season, along with the philosophy of being a community oriented organization helped to lay the groundwork for much of the organization's mission statement and vision for the community.

Growth as a Regional Organization: Gary Robinson, 2001-10

Growth as a Regional Organization: Gary Robinson, 2001-10

Growth as a Regional Organization: Gary Robinson, 2001-10

At the beginning of the 2001-02 season, Foothills Philharmonic introduced Gary Robinson as the second Artistic Director in the organization's history, as well as had a new name: Greenville Community Symphony Orchestra. Under Dr. Robinson, Foothills Philharmonic grew technically as an organization, as well as expanded its base of operations. Performing throughout Greenville County, concert venues ranged from Greenville Tech and the Cascades at Verde to the Younts Center in Fountain Inn and the Gunter Theatre in Greenville.


Because of the name similarity with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, the name Foothills Philharmonic replaced Greenville Community Symphony Orchestra at the start of the 2002-03 season, a name which the orchestra has gone by up to the present day.

The Greer Connection Begins: Guest Conductors, 2010-11

Greer Residency and Continued Expansion: Kory Vrieze, 2011-Present

Greer Residency and Continued Expansion: Kory Vrieze, 2011-Present

During the 2010-11 season, Foothills had a series of Guest Conductors who helped direct the organization at the conclusion of Dr. Robinson's tenure as Artistic Director.  The four guest conductors  this season were Dr. Michael Weaver, Jonathan Neal, Kory Vrieze, and Benji Allsep. At the end of that season, it was Kory Vrieze who would emerge as the permanent Artistic Director. It was during this season that Foothills Philharmonic developed its current relationship with Greer, transitioning from performing at different venues throughout Greenville County to basing all performances in the City of Greer.

Greer Residency and Continued Expansion: Kory Vrieze, 2011-Present

Greer Residency and Continued Expansion: Kory Vrieze, 2011-Present

Greer Residency and Continued Expansion: Kory Vrieze, 2011-Present

Under Maestro Vrieze, Foothills has witnessed an unprecedented era of growth. From expanding our concert audience and creating two different concert series (Mainstage Orchestra Series and Spotlight Chamber Series) to the addition of community events and the Future Stars Scholarship, Maestro Vrieze has helped the orchestra grow substantially, and as we look to the future, we are excited to see what new heights he will be able to direct us as an organization.

Our Past Concerts

    Our History and You

    Help Us Preserve Our History

    As we enter into our third decade of existence, we look forward with great anticipation to how we can best serve the City of Greer and the Upstate of South Carolina. However, we don't want to just look towards the future. We must also not lose track of our history, remembering the individuals and events that have helped shape us into the organization that we are today. If you have documents that you feel would b pivotal in helping us to preserve the history of Foothills Philharmonic, please click the "Preserve Our History" button below. Whether it is a program from past concerts or possibly even a music recording that you came across, we would love to have that in our archives.

    Be a Part of Preserving Our History

    Preserve Our History
    • Ways You Can Give
    • FAQ's
    • Contact Us
    • Join Us As A Partner
    • Join Our Team!
    • Join Our Mailing List!
    • The Community Events
    • The Future Stars
    • The Guild
    • The Ambassador Series
    • The Newsletters
    • The Press Releases
    • The Season
    • The Guest Soloists
    • The Maestro
    • The Musicians
    • The Partners
    • The Performance Venues
    • The Philharmonic
    • The Visitor Center
    • The Fun Facts
    • The History of Foothills
    • The Virtual Performances

    Foothills Philharmonic

    PO Box 3001, Greenville, SC 29602, US

    (864) 326-5780

    Copyright © 2022 Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra - All Rights Reserved.

    Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder

    This website uses cookies.

    We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

    DeclineAccept

    Sign Up for Our Mailing List

    Want to know more about our upcoming season so that you don’t miss a thing? Whether you prefer email or snail mail, we will make sure you are in the loop about what is coming up!

    Sign Up Today