History
The Mid-Texas Symphony was founded in 1978 by a visionary professor at Texas Lutheran University who engineered what many said was impossible. Professor Anita Windecker, a gifted pianist and passionate educator, believed that that the communities of Seguin and New Braunfels as well as the students of her beloved university, TLU, deserved and could support a professional orchestra. She knew -- and persuaded others -- that with creativity, energy, careful planning, and organization, two small communities with the help of a small university could bring high-quality classical music and associated educational programming to an area with a small population that was not rich in cultural opportunities.
On June 10, 1978, the orchestra personnel assembled for the inaugural meeting of the the Mid-Texas Symphony at Wuppermann Little Theater, Texas Lutheran College (now University), in Seguin. On July 13th that year, the Mid-Texas Symphony Society, Inc. -- the non-profit corporation -- was organized and officers and board members for the Society were elected. The mission of the Mid-Texas Symphony, as set forth in its charter, is to “foster, promote and increase musical knowledge and appreciation by the public, including students, through educational activities.”
With characteristic vision, the Mid-Texas Symphony immediately joined the American Symphony Orchestra League, now known as the League of American Orchestras. Texas Lutheran College President, Charles Oestreich, affirmed the permanent support and use of facilities that would be offered to the Mid-Texas Symphony by the university -- a committment that has been honored through the years.
In September 1978, the Seguin chapter of the Mid-Texas Symphony Guild was organized. Shortly thereafter, in February 1979, the New Braunfels Guild Chapter was formed. The Guild chapters have raised funds to support the Symphony since that time, as well as trained countless young women in social skills, provided docents, concert ushers, and other help.
Having laid a very solid framework that continues to exist today, the premiere concert of the Mid-Texas Symphony Orchestra was presented on November 19, 1978 in the Seguin Coliseum. On April 29, 1979, the Mid-Texas Symphony presented its first concert in New Braunfels at the Civic Center. That autumn, the Mid-Texas Symphony Chorus was established; it sang with the orchestra at the December concert in 1979. In 1983, the first Young Artist Competition was held.
Since 1988, its tenth year, the Mid-Texas Symphony has offered free children’s concerts in New Braunfels and Seguin – two in each city. These well-attended concerts offer perhaps the only opportunity for many of these children – 1/3 of them economically disadvantaged – to hear live orchestral music.
Seguin and New Braunfels are the smallest communities in the U.S. that sponsor a professional symphony orchestra. The strong volunteer organization, careful planning, and the close relationship with Texas Lutheran University have helped the Mid-Texas Symphony meet a pressing cultural need for the inspiration and the wide emotional range that classical music offers.
Society
The Mid-Texas Symphony Society is composed of a 39-member Board of Directors and a Guild with two chapters, one in Seguin and one in New Braunfels.
Staff
Patricia Schofield, Executive Director
Eithne Goetz, Music Librarian
Tau Beta Sigma & Kappa Kappa Psi, Stage Managers
Board of Directors
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Ellen M. Salyers, President of Society
Cathy Talcott, Vice-President of Society
Fred Carney, Vice-President of Development
Jack Linden, Vice-President of Education
Chris Bischoff, Vice-President of Finance and Treasurer
Marty Lindley, Vice-President of Marketing
Sara Hartin, Vice-President of Music
Cindy Peterman, Vice-President of Ticketing
Kathy Nossaman, Vice-President of Guild
Martha Rinn, Secretary
Nancy Carney
Karen Castillo
Betsy Cunningham
Kathleen Devine
Trina Eastwood
Cheryl Fisher
Dr. John Gesick
Dr. Haskell Hart
Janice Lee
Dr. Patt Linden
Dolores Little
John Masterson
Barbara Oakes
Millis "Bud" Oakes
Walter Penk
Marj Peters
Robert Pfullmann
Ken Ratcliff
Rick Reeves
Akiko Rockers
Chris Schwab
Judith Hahnssen-Schwab
Adrienne Stone
John Upper
Cindy Williams
Ken Willmann
LIFETIME ADVISORY MEMBERS
Anita Windecker, Founder
Dr. Charles Oestreich
Caroline Weston
Guild
The Mid-Texas Symphony Guild consists of two chapters, one in Seguin and one in New Braunfels. Guild activities include:
- Debutante program for high school senior girls, escorts, and stags and their families
- Junior deburante program for high school juniors (Seguin)
- Symphony Ball and Debutante presentation held in each city
- Fund-raising through poinsettia sales, silent and live auctions
- Docent program for children's concerts
- The Color of Music (art-to-music program in cooperation with the New Braunfels Art League, which provided the materials and arts instruction in 2010)
- Cotillion (for younger students)
Trina Eastwood, Seguin Chapter President
Betsy Cunningham, New Braunfels Chapter President