Jacob Bos, Artistic Director (1974-1980)

Jacob Bos was a native of Groningen, the Netherlands. He studied vocal and instrumental music at the Groningen School of Music and at the Royal Conservatory of Music, in The Hague. He was a bassoonist with the Dutch Royal Navy Orchestra and later principal bassoonist for the Haarlem Orchestra.  He founded and directed the Haarlem School of Music and the Zaamdan School of Music.  He played chamber music with Isaac Stern and Yehudi Menuhin.  He also performed with other orchestras in Germany, France, and Italy. He was a member and president of the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam from 1941 to 1950.

He taught at Brigham Young University as a professor of music and attained emeritus status. He was also the originator and first conductor of the Utah Valley Symphony and the Utah Valley Children’s Chorus. Jacob also founded the Civic Oratorio Society, which was renamed the Utah Valley Choral Society, and recently officially renamed the Wasatch Chorale.
​
Of note, during his tenure, the Civic Oratorio Society sang Handel’s Judas Maccabeus, Bach Cantatas #1 and #80 in a Christmas concert with the Provo High School Acapella Choir, Mendelssohn’s St. Paul Oratorio, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Faure’s Requiem. The group often collaborated with other professional musicians and high school student musicians.