The GUSO | Conductor | Archive

In 2006 the GUSO was founded as a successor to the "Tempi Misti" symphony orchestra. The newborn orchestra developed rapidly and radically changed the Ghent musical landscape. In its very first year the GUSO gave no less than 4 excellently received concerts collaborating with world class musicians such as Hans Van Daele and Michail Bezverkhny. About 40 musicians could proudly look back on a successful starting year.

In the academic year 2007-2008 the orchestra continued this course. The GUSO almost doubled in size and went on her first foreign rehearsal and concert trip. After 6 days of rehearsal and hard working, but also more relaxing activities at the Robinson College of the University of Cambridge, the GUSO played a beautiful afternoon Easter concert. Both in Cambridige as in Ghent the orchestra proudly presented her audience a world premiere of 'Lost on Planet GUSO' by Michiel De Malsche and another specially for the GUSO composed work by the English Prof. Jeremy Thurlow. An enthousiast audience of no less than 1000 people enjoyed our concerts in December and April.

In 2008-2009 the GUSO went for the second time abroad. In cooperation with Yought Orchestra (JOSVA) of the Spanish city of Valladolid we participated in an enriching exchange project. After having received 40 Spanish musicians in March, the GUSO packed her bags and went to Valladolid in April '09, accompanied by Marco Antonio Mazzini, soloist for the upcoming concerts. This marked the beginning of an intensive and fruitful cooperation with this young, Peruvian bass clarinettist. What followed was a world premiere of the 'Concerto Silvestre' by the - also - Peruvian composer Rafaël Leonardo Junchaya.

Last year was a busy one as well. During our winter concerts, you were able to witness the world premiere of a remarkable music piece: ‘Concerto Grosso for turntable, cello and orchestra’ by Fabrizio Cassol in cooperation with soloists Dj Grazzhoppa and Lode Vercampt. After having brought this true musical adventure to a good end, we were leaving for Berlin, a city full of history, where we were assisted by a team of coaches, in order to improve our musical performance even further. This was also a great opportunity for our piano soloist Bart Meynckens to get fully used to the historical Bösendorfer grand piano, which was provided specially for this series of GUSO concerts.