Noord Nederlands Orkest

The Noord Nederlands Orkest (NNO; English, North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra ) is a Dutch symphony orchestra based in Groningen. The NNO performs at De Oosterpoort in Groningen and also on a regular basis at these venues in the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe:
 * Drachten, De Lawei
 * Emmen, Atlas Theater
 * Hoogeveen, De Tamboer
 * Leeuwarden, De Harmonie
 * Meppel, Schouwburg Ogterop
 * Stadskanaal, Theater Geert Teis

History
The historical roots of the NNO date back to 1862, when the Orkest der Vereeniging De Harmonie (Orchestra of the Society De Harmonie) was established in Groningen. This orchestra attained independent status in 1926 under the name Groninger Orkest Vereeniging, which was further renamed the Noordelijk Filharmonisch Orkest (NFO) in 1962. In 1989, the NFO was merged with a second orchestra, the Frysk Orkest (originally from Leeuwarden), to establish the NNO in its present form.

The orchestra's most recent managing director was Ingeborg Walinga, who was named to the post in March 2011 and formally assumed the title on 1 June 2011. Walinga concluded her tenure in the post in 2021. In October 2021, the NNO announced the appointment of Liesbeth Kok as its next managing director, effective 1 January 2022.

The NNO has made commercial recordings for such labels as Donemus and MuziekGroep Nederland, including music of Dutch composers such as Jacob van Domselaer and Jacob ter Veldhuis.

Chief conductors
The first chief conductor of the NNO was Jacek Kaspszyk, from 1991 to 1995. Subsequent chief conductors included Hans Drewanz (1995–1997) and Viktor Liberman (1997–1999). Alexander Vedernikov held the title of principal guest conductor (vaste gastdirigent) from 2001 to 2003. Michel Tabachnik was chief conductor from 2005 to 2011, and now has the title of conductor laureate. In March 2011, the NNO announced the appointment of Stefan Asbury as its chief conductor, as of the 2011–2012 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. Asbury stood down from the post in 2015.

In 2018, Eivind Gullberg Jensen first guest-conducted the NNO. Jensen returned for two additional guest-conducting engagements, the most recent in September 2021. In October 2021, the NNO announced the appointment of Jensen as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2022–2023 season.

List of chief conductors

 * Jacek Kaspszyk (1991–1995)
 * Hans Drewanz (1995–1997)
 * Viktor Liberman (1997–1999)
 * Michel Tabachnik (2005–2011)
 * Stefan Asbury (2011–2015)
 * Eivind Gullberg Jensen (designate, effective 2022)

Programing and vision
In the vision of the NNO, "the secret of the intense experience of classical music lies in the live performance of the symphony orchestra and in the interaction between musicians and audience." The repertoire of the NNO ranges from Baroque music to contemporary classical music. In addition, efforts are made to reach a broad audience through crossovers between classical music and jazz and pop music. Annually, a living composer is featured at the Composer Festival organized in collaboration with the Prime Foundation. Since 2000, these have been successively Terry Riley, Arvo Pärt, Hans Werner Henze, Wolfgang Rihm, Harrison Birtwistle, Heiner Goebbels, Sofia Gubaidulina, Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, Michael Nyman, and Steve Vai. In the 2016-2017 season, the "Composer in Residence" was Anthony Fiumara.

The programming is broad, with the aim of appealing to a large target audience. The NNO achieves this, for example, through the Pieter Roelf Youth concerts and free lunchtime and outdoor concerts. The NNO is also regularly heard on the radio. There is close collaboration with various other art institutions, the Prins Claus Conservatory (Groningen), the Royal Conservatory (The Hague), and the Conservatory of Amsterdam.

In the 2005-2006 season, the programming of the NNO was nominated for the Classical Music Prize of the Association of Theater and Concert Hall Directors (VSCD). During the 2016-2017 season, the Council for Culture advised the Foundation of the Noord Nederlands Orkest to allocate a subsidy amount of €6,000,000, citing "the wide range of symphonic repertoire and the well-organized educational program with a large reach."

Concerts by the NNO vary considerably in style. To make the music accessible, the NNO often provides introductions to concerts and the presence of an "artist in residence." Pop artist Eric Corton fulfilled this role in 2016. He is still closely associated with the NNO as a singer and presenter. For example, he sang with Tim Akkerman, Tim Knol, and Marcel Veenendaal at the concert "A Symphonic Tribute to The Rolling Stones." In addition to crossovers, the NNO performs the grand symphonic repertoire, contemporary classical music (composed after 1975), and concerts under the title "symphonic new style." These are concerts where classical music is central but presented in a different way. This may involve differences in the duration of a concert or the combination of classical music with another musical style or a current theme.