ODYSSEUS NORTH TEXAS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF MCKINNEY
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THE ODYSSEUS NORTH TEXAS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
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Founded in Denton in May 2012, Odysseus Chamber Orchestra consists of professional classical musicians from the DFW area. launching a successful inaugural performance featuring local soloists, performed with Christopher Deane, Professor of Percussion at the University of North Texas and gave the world premiere of Breathe by Brad Robin, a work commissioned by Artistic Director, Jason Lim. Under the direction of Jason Lim, OCO has embarked with innovative collaborations with the Denton City Contemporary Ballet staging a full ballet performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and in 2014 staged the North Texas premiere performance of Igor Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale with the ae:mp Amity Perry and Company. In 2014 OCO collaborated with world renowned double bassist, Jeff Bradetich featuring the Tango music of Astor Piazzolla. The Odysseus Orchestra has also collaborated with legendary guitarist Andy Timmons and will share the stage in 2019 with Grammy Award Winning Polka Band, Brave Combo.

In its short history, the Odysseus Chamber Orchestra has gained a growing national reputation as an emerging ensemble, winning third prize in the 2015 American Prize Competition for professional orchestras and 2nd prize in the 2014. In 2016 the Odysseus Chamber Orchestra also received the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for excellence in performing American Music. OCO has supported local service clubs like the Denton Breakfast Kiwanis Club, the Robson Ranch Kiwanis Club, sponsoring events such as the Eliminate Project Cruise and the Passing of the Banner Dinner. The outreach programs of Odysseus has expanded in the last two year, providing free chamber music series concerts, free amenity concerts in neighborhoods, educational school performances and collaborating with the Arts and Music Guild to organize the Summer Music Intensives. In 2017 OCO launched the first Young Artist Viola competition of its kind in the North Texas Region. Furthermore, OCO pioneered the Mentorship Program created by Artistic Director Jason Lim. This program provides high school orchestra students the opportunity to rehearse and perform side-by-side with members of OCO and in 2017, OCO launched the Greater North Texas Youth Orchestra.  
 
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