The International Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1957 as a result of the amalgamation of the Port Huron String Ensemble (Michigan) and the Little Orchestra Society of Sarnia. Both communities realized they were too small to establish and support separate orchestras, but believed that a collaboration might work. Indeed it did, and so began the rich international co-operative venture that continues to this day. From a humble inception of only two concerts a year, the orchestra’s activities have evolved to a pre-pandemic season of twelve Series performances, several Cushion Concerts, Chamber Presentations, youth education concerts and a number of community events.
The International Symphony Singers were added in 1984 to facilitate the inclusion of oratorio, opera, Broadway and musical theatre into the orchestra’s programming options. Since that time, the Symphony Singers have added a new texture to the organization, taking part in several concerts each season.
In fall 2019 The ISObar, a downtown Sarnia performance/rehearsal/gallery space, opened and was home to regular live music performances for intimate area audiences. The intercession of Covid19 necessitated a shift in ISO operations, which have included; The ISObar Sessions, filmed episodes of ISO orchestra members performing in the ISObar space with singer-songwriters; the summer 2020 Thru The Looking Glass series, which placed musicians in the ISO front window for 10 Saturdays; and the Nexus Chamber Series, an online season of empty hall chamber performances on both sides of the Canada-US border.
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