FcSymphony.org
Title
Fort Collins Symphony
Description
As the oldest established arts organization and the only professional symphonic orchestra in Larimer County, the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra maintains a significant presence in the cultural life of Fort Collins and its surrounding areas.
It all started when a young violinist, named Willfred Schwartz, came to Fort Collins from New York City and the Julliard School of Music in 1948 to take a position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Music at what was then Colorado A&M College. Building largely upon the work that had been done by Editha Todd (Mrs. Warren Leonard) who had formed and led The Fort Collins concert Orchestra from 1923 to the late 1930's, Maestro Schwartz held his first rehearsal of the orchestra on October 5, 1949. Only 17 musicians showed up for that rehearsal but by the second rehearsal, the number had doubled. Mrs. Leonard served as Concertmaster during its first thirteen seasons and was a member of the Board of Directors for several years.
How much were the Musicians paid? Very few were professional musicians and none were paid. It was definitely a community effort involving the A&M College, the school district personnel and teachers and other interested community members, but the main source of energy that pulled it all together into a productive ongoing symphonic organization was the young man named Will Schwartz. In the decades that followed he cajoled, argued, prodded, encouraged, and bargained with anyone and everyone that could either play in the orchestra or in some other way help it to grow.
Contact
- Fort Collins Symphony
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- Fort Collins CO
- United States 80524
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- +1.9999999999
