Fort Collins Symphony

The History of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra
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. How Did It All Happen? 1920's - 1940's 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. 1950's - 1960's The founding of the Symphony Guild was another significant factor in the growth of the FCS. In 1963, the Maestro proposed that the Symphony Society Board of Directors support the organization of a Women's Guild. Since its founding, the Guild, functioning as a separate organization, has conducted a variety of fund-raising activities such as the Symphony Ball, Antique Fair, Parade of Homes, the annual production of the Nutcracker Ballet plus numerous others. They are a very hard working group of ladies, but as Becky Connor, past president of the FCSA and long-time Guild member had said, "This is a labor of love for all of the ladies involved. Not just hard work." 1970's - 1980's The Poudre School District has also been vitally involved in the development of the FCS. During the time before the construction of the Lincoln Center, the concerts were held in the Lincoln Junior High School auditorium. There was at the time only one high school and one junior high. The junior high was more centrally located. In 1977, when the old Lincoln Junior High became slated for demolition to make way for the new Lincoln Center, concerts were moved first to Rocky Mountain High School, then to Poudre High School and back to Rocky Mountain again. In more recent years, this cooperation between the school district and the FCS has continued in the form of school concerts. Once each year since the early 1980's, the school district has provided transportation for the 4th and 6th graders to be brought to the Lincoln Center to attend a FCS concert presented especially for them.
Colorado State University has been a leading influence in the growth of the FCS. It was no accident that the orchestra was at first called the A&M Orchestra. From its first inception to the early 1970's, the orchestra was, to all intents and purposes, just exactly that. The A&M College (later, CSU) gave the Maestro release time and provided practice space. The students who played in the orchestra were given course credit that counted toward completing a major or minor in music. Some of them were attending the University with the support of a scholarship that had been granted by the University and they fulfilled part of their obligation by playing in the Fort Collins Symphony. These policies were discontinued in 1978 when it was determined that it was no longer practical for the University to support two orchestras. (By this time CSU had its own symphony orchestra.) However, the FCS still has use of the practice facilities at CSU at minimal cost. As its professional stature has grown, the business management of the orchestra and campaigns for funds became increasingly important. Until 1969 when Clare Wilber took over the job, the campaigns for funds and subsequent record keeping had been managed by several very hardworking and capable individuals, none of whom received any compensation other than that required for things like stamps, paper, stationery, etc. Claire was a volunteer at first, and for several years the Symphony office was located in her home. As the job became more demanding, it was increasingly clear that a separate office was needed. When the Chamber of Commerce offered space in their new building at Oak and Canyon at no cost, it was accepted. About this time, the manager position gradually evolved from being strictly volunteer to the point where a small stipend was offered and accepted. A few years later, during the mid-seventies, some members of the Board of Directors began to conceive that possibility of hiring a professional, half-time fund-raiser, but it wasn't until 1984 that the Board began to explore the idea of employing a full-time, professional manager. This movement resulted in the hiring of Paul Batchelor who filled the vacancy created by Clare's retirement. Shortly after her retirement, Mrs. Wilber was designated Executive Director Emerita by the Board of Directors. Mr. Batchelor served as General Manager until July 31, 1989. 1990's & The New Millennium Since 1990, several capable managers including Michael Klesert, Carolyn Charkey, and Merete Cunningham have served the Symphony. In 1999, Lee Hill was named Executive Director. Also in 1999, after serving 50 years, Will Schwartz stepped down as conductor of the FCS. The 1999-2000 Season marked a new era for the Fort Collins Symphony as its artistic helm was taken over by new Music Director, Fusao Kajima. Kajima was a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan, where he studied under Gustav Meier. Kajima continued as Music Director and Conductor through the 2000-2001 Season.
In 2002, the Fort Collins Symphony named Donna Visocky to the position of Executive Director. Under Visocky's leadership, the organization has gone from deficit spending to operating in the black. In addition, the Symphony has increased its programming, special events and visibility in the Fort Collins community, successfully positioning itself as the premier cultural organization in the region.
Also in 2002, the Symphony launched a search for a new conductor. In 2003, in a unique collaboration between two of Fort Collins premiere cultural organizations, the Fort Collins Symphony Association and Colorado State University's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance announced the joint hiring of Conductor Wes Kenney. Mr. Kenney will serve as Music Director of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and the CSU Symphony and Chamber Orchestras as well as teaching graduate conducting. After a phenomenally successful premiere season which saw unprecedented response and growth for the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, Wes Kenney now returns for his second year as Music Director and Conductor. He is also Associate Professor at Colorado State University where he conducts the University Symphony, Chamber Orchestra and teaches graduate conducting. He was recently named Music Director of Fort Collins Opera and has helped initiate this season's semi-staged Carmen as a collaboration between FCS, CSU and Fort Collins Opera. Prior to coming to Colorado, Maestro Kenney was the Associate Conductor of the Virginia Symphony where he appeared with that orchestra in over 350 performances. In his six years in that position he conducted Masterworks, Pops, Family, Run/Out, and Educational Concerts and worked with such artists as David Shifrin, Doc Severinson, Norman Krieger, Kathy Mattea, Burt Bachrach, and Toni Tennille. Mr. Kenney has guest conducted the Buffalo Philharmonic, Savannah Symphony, Acadiana Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, San Juan Symphony, and many others. Last season he was Artistic Advisor to the Williamsburg Symphonia in Virginia. Wes Kenney has previously been Music Director of the Oakland Youth Orchestra, and the Northridge Chamber Orchestra. He took OYO on international tours to Central Europe and Mainland China/Taiwan, winning two ASCAP awards for adventuresome programming in two seasons. He has served on the faculties of William and Mary, San Francisco State University, and the University of Southern California. Mr. Kenney holds a Master of Music San Francisco State University where he was tops in his graduating class and won the prestigious Carmen Dragon Prize the best conductor in the California State University system. He also received a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from University of Southern California where he majored in Music History. Further conducting studies were taken at Die Hochschule fur Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna, the Conductors Institute, and at American Symphony Orchestra League and Conductors Guild Workshops. His teachers include Gustav Meier, Daniel Lewis, Harold Farberman, Herbert Blomstedt, Hans Beer, Hans Swarovsky, Miltiardes Carides, and others. Mr. Kenney is a former president of the Conductors Guild and currently serves on their advisory board. From being a largely amateur, volunteer group of musicians and supporters to the professional orchestra that we see and hear today, the Fort Collins Symphony is truly an organization of which we can be proud. To meet our musicians, click here To meet our current staff, click here To meet the FCSA Board, click here