The founder of the Lake County Symphony Orchestra announced the launch of a new orchestra on Thursday, a moment he described as a “strong step on the path to healing” after a bitter break with his previous group.
Known as Orchestra Revivo, the new group will be looking to fill a roster of roughly 45 performers, founder Ron Arden said, largely in line with the scale of the Lake County Symphony Orchestra. Its home will be the Ten Hotel Gurnee, where Arden envisions regular performances of a variety of orchestra music, from pops to classical, played with dinner accompaniment.
Arden shared some more plans for the coming months, such as performances for Fourth of July celebrations as the United States marks 250 years, and a Charlie Brown jazz concert for the Christmas season.
It was an emotional evening for Arden, who was surrounded at the launch event by friends, fellow musicians and family, choking up several times while speaking.
“As I heal emotionally and mentally, many of you in this room have been at my side with love, respect and encouragement,” Arden told the gathered crowd.
Arden said the group’s name came about while talking with his family. Referencing the controversy surrounding the end of his time with the Lake County Symphony Orchestra, Arden said he had an idea around the mythical phoenix bird, which, after burning away, is reborn from its ashes, but the “Phoenix Symphony” already exists in Arizona.
But it led down a path of synonyms, and Arden said he was drawn to the word “revival,” and a quick check for the Italian pronunciation led to the new name.
“I looked up from my cell phone and said, ‘Orchestra Revivo. Music that lives again.’” Arden said.
Cellist Phillip Suwandi, who performed during the event, said he’s already lined up to be the group’s principal cellist. The young Suwandi studied at Northwestern University, coincidentally under the same teacher as Arden several decades prior.
Being an official performer in an orchestra is valuable for musicians, Suwandi said. His time with Arden has been “really valuable” for him professionally, he said.
“It’s a community,” Suwandi said. “There’s something spiritual.”
Bitter break
In December, Arden sent out a mass email to several hundred people saying he had been forced out of the group he founded, and encouraging members not to donate to the organization.
It was the first public notice of an internal drama that had occurred earlier in the year. Arden said he had been driven to put out the message after being contacted by several people who had learned he would not be leading the orchestra’s Christmas season performances.
In the message, Arden alluded to an internal controversy and takeover of the orchestra’s board, alleging a “story of lies and deceit.” In the email, Arden said he resigned in August, “in response to the unreal betrayal of board members” he had recruited, “trusted and thought had integrity.”
According to a previous LCSO’s statement, the organization’s board accepted Arden’s resignation “based on internal concerns regarding administrative alignment, organizational expectations and long-term governance needs.”
“These components were reviewed in the context of ensuring the stability and compliance of the LCSO as a 501(c)(3) organization,” the statement said.
In reference to Arden’s letter, the LCSO had said statements circulating online represent his personal views, and that the LCSO “does not concur with those characterizations”.
The LCSO has continued performing, with concerts listed online for February, March and May.