UNION SYMPHONY SOCIETY, INC. (USSI) is a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to entertain, educate, serve and inspire through music.
Union Symphony Programs
Union Symphony Orchestra (USO) provides at least six live concerts annually, including seasonal music, opera, pops and jazz. Our youth orchestra, junior string orchestra, Union Jazz, and youth chamber groups grant opportunity for the study and expression of concert music to on average nearly 150 families.
Our ensembles support other nonprofit organizations and institutions in this community by providing chamber music at open community and/or private events.
USSI provides the key financial support to Union Symphony Orchestra, Union Symphony Youth Orchestra, Union Jazz, Union Symphony Prelude Junior String Orchestra, and Union Symphony Youth Chamber Players.
Union Symphony League is a subsidiary designed to promote the social and cultural life of Union Symphony and to assist in its fundraising efforts.
History of the Union Symphony
Originally established over two decades ago as a volunteer orchestra on the campus of Wingate College, North Carolina, Union Symphony incorporated in 2007 with founding executive director Nola McCollum. For the next three seasons, Union Symphony Orchestra performed under the baton of artistic director Dr. Kenney Potter of Wingate University.
In 2008, Union Symphony began its educational outreach with the establishment of the Junior Guild, a music enrichment program that served local youth for the next four seasons. In 2009, Union Symphony began the Union Symphony Youth Orchestra, with founding music director Mekel Rogers, its largest educational outreach program. Prelude Junior String Orchestra, with founding music director Sabrina Howard, followed in 2012. Today, Union Symphony operates six educational programs for youth.
Union Symphony opened an office on Main Street in Downtown Monroe in 2008, and have since partnered with City of Monroe for performances including the Pops on the Plaza.
In 2009, the Union Symphony League was established with a two-pronged focus: 1) to organize and execute events designed to promote the social and cultural life of Union Symphony, and 2) to assist in the fundraising efforts of the USSI. Dr. Brooke Mitchell of Wingate University served as chair for the charter season.
In 2012, Union Symphony Orchestra came under the baton of artistic director Richard Rosenberg. Executive director, Kim Norwood, a first full-time employee was hired in 2013. The next nine seasons saw significant growth in size and quality. In 2020, for a fifteenth season, Deanna Tham was hired as music director of Union Symphony Orchestra.
Union Symphony has offered a wide range of repertoires including classical, opera, jazz and popular music. Education and community engagement performances have represented another core component of the Symphony’s offerings, along with partnerships with other area arts, educational, and social services organizations.
Union Symphony has partnered with others in the community including the Union County Community Arts Council, the Union County Public Schools, Union County Youth Ballet and Wingate University. Union Symphony receives additional support from the James R. & Bronnie L. Braswell Trust and the Union County Community Foundation.
Union Symphony Society, Inc. Board Chairs
Linda Costa, 2026-present
Richard Yercheck, 2016-2026
Caleb Barnhardt, 2015-2016
Chris Duggan, 2014–2015
Stella Baucom, 2013–2014
David Nelms, 2011-2013
Nathan Hopper, 2006–2011
Our Musical Director Deanna Tham
Powerfully compelling, Deanna Tham is known for her captivating and tenacious spirit on and off the podium. She is currently the Associate Conductor of the Oregon Symphony and Music Director of the Union Symphony Orchestra.
Previously, Tham was the Assistant Conductor of the Omaha Symphony, following her tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony and Principal Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras. She has performed at the Proms in Royal Albert Hall, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Seiji Ozawa Hall at the Tanglewood Music Center working with Maestros James Ross, Joseph Young, and Sir Antonio Pappano, as well as renowned artists Isobel Leonard and Joyce DiDonato. Recent highlights of the include leading the Jacksonville Symphony’s first educational Martin Luther King Jr. tribute concert and the Union Symphony’s first city-community Pops on the Plaza collaboration of Latin American pop and classical music. Additional recent engagements include Assistant Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO-USA and NYO2) and Assistant Conductor of the Chicago Sinfonietta with Maestro Mei-Ann Chen. Tham is a cover conductor for the San Francisco Symphony and has worked with world-renown artists across genres including Melissa White, Capthia Jenkins, and Cherish the Ladies . Her past positions include those with the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Louisville Youth Orchestras, and American Chamber Opera.
Tham is a staunch advocate of music education from school education engagement and youth orchestral performing opportunities to lifelong learning. In 2018, Tham and the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras made their debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California. Previously, she has worked with the Louisville Youth Orchestras and the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Tham has also created and presented educational concert series in a variety of formats. She has written original school-curriculum-based programs for numerous symphony orchestras and collaborated with organizations including Really Inventive Stuff, the Louisville Ballet Academy, and the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute.
Tham is a second-place winner in the Youth Orchestra Conductor division of the American Prize. She has worked with renowned conductors Marin Alsop, James Ross, Victor Yampolsky, and Ken Kiesler. In 2013, Tham’s work with the festival was been featured on National Public Radio as well as American Public Media. She has also made appearances at the Cadaques Orchestra International Conducting Competition.
Our Concert Master David Hwan-Min Song
A native of Jeon-Ju, South Korea, violinist David Hwan-Min Song began studying the violin at the age of 10. He received his training at the Jeonju Fine Arts Middle School under Seung-Gu Baek before immigrating to the United States in 2002. Since then, he has performed extensively as an orchestral, chamber, and solo violinist. He served as Concertmaster of the Stetson University Symphony Orchestra, Baylor University Symphony Orchestra and the Florida All-State Orchestra for several years, as well as Concertmaster for the All-County Orchestra and the Southwest Florida Youth Orchestra.
In 2003, Mr. Song made his solo debut with the Southwest Florida Youth Orchestra under the baton of Dr. David Eccles, and has also appeared as soloist with the Southwest Symphony Orchestra under Paul Naddler, Ocala Symphony and Edison State College Orchestra under Dr. Daniel Hill. Additionally, Song was featured as soloist on NPR’s program From The Top performing a movement from Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No.2 with Christopher O’Reilly. In 2005, he was selected to perform with the London Symphony during the Florida International Festival in Daytona Beach, Florida.
In April 2011, David Hwan-Min Song was featured guest soloist performing Pablo de Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy as First Prize Winner of the Southwest Florida Symphony Young Artist Competition (Michael Hall, conductor).
Mr. Song was a full scholarship student of the internationally renowned Routa Kroumovitch-Gomez at Stetson University, where he received the Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance. He was a scholarship student of Dr. Bruce Berg at Baylor University where he pursued a master of Music in Violin Performance.
David Hwan-Min Song served as an Assistant Principal in the Savannah Philharmonic and Assistant Conductor for the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras. He also performs with the Jacksonville Symphony, the Charleston Symphony and the Coastal Symphony of Georgia.
Join the USL
What is the Union Symphony League (USL)?
The Union Symphony League (USL) is a glad addition to the vibrant cultural life of Union County. Formed as a subsidiary of the Union Symphony Society, Inc. (USSI), the USL has a two-pronged focus: 1) to organize and execute events designed to promote the social and cultural life of Union Symphony, and 2) to assist in the fundraising efforts of the USSI.
Is membership to the USL by invitation only?
Absolutely not! Please contact the symphony office if you are interested at 704-283-2525.
Can you tell me more about what this entails?
Many different skills and interests are utilized to make the work of the USL a success. Planning, organizing, publicity and execution form the root of any event.
Symphony of Holiday Homes
The Symphony League celebrates Union Symphony Society’s many years of service to this region with hosting this holiday extravaganza which features some of Monroe vicinity’s most attractive and gaily decorated homes. From whimsical to Victorian, the homes will give you breathtaking moments of beauty and interesting ideas for home decoration.
Patrons Reception
USL annually hosts a reception in appreciation of supporting patrons for their ongoing support of Union Symphony.
Symphony of Flowers Garden Tour
The USL features experienced gardens that contain flowers and/or vegetables with unique features such as effective use of planting in pots, beekeeping and a garden art studio. Musical performances by Union Symphony are provided and works by local artists are on display in select gardens.
