The current VSO was founded by the Vancouver Symphony Society in 1919, largely through the efforts of arts patron Elisabeth Rogers. There was an earlier but unrelated orchestra using the same name was formed in 1897 by Adolf Gregory, but lasted for only one season; it was briefly revived in 1907 by Charles Ward. The VSO's first conductor was Henry Green; F.L. Beecher was the first president and Rogers the first vice-president. After two seasons, the orchestra disbanded in 1921 for financial reasons and after Green left. Performances resumed in 1930, again largely because of Rogers, with Allard de Ridder as music director. From the 1940s until 1959, the orchestra performed at the Georgia Auditorium; it then moved to the new Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The VSO also served as the Vancouver Opera company's orchestra during the 1960s and 1970s, until the creation of the separate Vancouver Opera Orchestra in 1977. During the late 1960s and 1970s, the orchestra often appeared in joint concerts with the Vancouver Woodwind Quintet. Kazuyoshi Akiyama was music director from 1972 to 1985, and is now the orchestra's conductor laureate. In 1979–1980, the VSO had the largest subscription list of any symphony in North America. However, in spite of a CBC recording contract, a quarterly magazine and an ambitious touring schedule, the VSO began to encounter financial difficulties. In 1988, it was forced to shut down for five months to regroup and deal with a $2.3 million deficit. With creditors forgiving the debt, the VSO began to rebuild. The orchestra began an annual series of outdoor summer concerts and in 1996 appointed their first composer in residence. Since 2000, the VSO's Music Director has been Bramwell Tovey. His initial contract was extended in December 2004 through the 2009–2010 season, and further extended in January 2010 through the 2014–2015 season. In November 2013, the VSO announced the further extension of Tovey's contract through the 2017–2018 season, and the scheduled conclusion of his music directorship of the VSO at that time. Tovey is scheduled to take the title of VSO music director emeritus with the 2018–2019 season, the VSO's 100th season. The VSO and Tovey won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance, for their recording of the Korngold, Barber, and Walton violin concerti, featuring Canadian violinist James Ehnes. The recording won a 2008 Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year. In January 2016, Otto Tausk first guest-conducted the VSO. He returned for a second guest-conducting appearance in January 2017. In February 2017, the VSO named Otto Tausk its next music director, starting on July 1, 2018. He held the title of music director-designate for the 2017–2018 season.
