Learn more about our amazing guild:
The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild is an organization composed of over 300 women whose purpose is the support of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. The Guild has raised more than $6.6 million dollars since its beginning and contributed more than 726,000 volunteer hours in service of the orchestra. The Guild’s Education Program is beneficial to the HSO for grants and in corporate fund raising.
Our Huntsville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 and is the only orchestra in the state of Alabama that has operated within its budget every year since it was founded. The orchestra is considered a Level 5 Professional Orchestra with an annual budget of over $1.7 million dollars and more than 70 contract players.
Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild began its education program for children in 1968. The Guild’s mission is to enrich children by introducing them to classical music with a full symphony orchestra in a live concert. Thus the Young People’s Concert, enhanced with preparation in the classroom, was begun.
The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra gave three, free concerts on a Saturday morning for fifth and sixth grades in the spring. Guild members went into Huntsville City school rooms to give the children a preview of the concerts and familiarize them with classical music. When the Von Braun Center opened in 1975, two concerts could accommodate the audience so at some point fourth grades were included.
Due to many outside factors the audience for these concerts was declining. It was decided they would be better received in late winter during school hours. Huntsville City Schools were not receptive to this. This was when the Guild offered the concerts to the Madison County Schools. They jumped at the chance and in 1986 the Orchestra gave 4 full performances during school hours for the county schools and the two Saturday concerts were for the city schools. Beginning in 1987 the Young Peoples Concerts were offered to fourth grades in city, county, and private schools during school hours. Some schools from outside the county were invited and that number has continued to increase. The fourth grade was chosen as that is the age at which a child appears to be most receptive to beginning the study of music.
Transportation to and from these concerts was paid for by the HSO in the beginning. As the concert grew in attendance the cost has been borne by the schools. The Guild coordinates with the VBC and the schools on this.
In 1971 two young artists were chosen by audition to play a concerto at these concerts. The Guild holds Young Artists Auditions a month or more before the concerts. Local students in high school or below may try out. Information for entering the audition is on the HSO web site. In the beginning there were two winners. The competition has changed over the years. Now there are one to four winners. The winner gets the opportunity to play with a full symphony orchestra as well as a monetary prize.
Sometime after 1990 a grant was obtained that paid for orchestra musicians to go into the classroom with the Guild member to prepare the children for the concert. This money is no longer available and the HSOG covers the costs for the orchestra members to accompany our education volunteers. This format continues with the Guild member making the contacts with the school, issuing the class the invitation to the concert, and introducing the musician who acquaints the children with the instruments, orchestra, and music.
In 1987 a student booklet was compiled and distributed to the students by Guild volunteers. It was 8 pages. It has increased to 24 color pages. It contains program notes, games, puzzles, and information on the conductor, musicians, and concert manners. The cover is chosen from an art contest entered into by fourth graders. Pictures by runner-ups in the contest are printed inside the booklet.
In 1992 the Guild produced a manual for the volunteers who go into the schools. It provides information to back up the volunteer’s knowledge.
In 2009 The Painted Violin Society was formed to finance these concerts for families at no charge on the weekend following the Young People’s Concerts. These concerts have enriched our children’s lives and led to scholarships and careers in music for some.
The Guild helps support the 3rd grade violin program each year. It also supports the Huntsville Youth Orchestra so its tuition is affordable to all students who want to join.
The Past Presidents Fund provides scholarship funds for students attending the Symphony School.
The Guild maintains the Ruth Cole Weber Scholarship Fund. It accepts donations and awards scholarships for musical education.
The Guild has received national recognition for numerous fundraisers which support these educational programs. The following national awards are from the League of American Orchestras for its educational programs.
- 1987 Young People’s Concert – Finalist – one of 8 Outstanding Education Programs, Amanda Miranda’s Amazing Birthday
- 1997 Young People’s Concert presented in Round Table Discussions and Panels
- 1999 Young People’s Concert Docent Program and Ruth Cole Weber Scholarship Fund presented in Round Table Discussions and Panels
- 2001 Certificate of Excellence for Education – HSOG’s YPC
- 2002 Gold Ribbon Award Round Table discussion on Young People’s Concert
- 2003 Gold Ribbon Award for 2001-2002 Young People’s Concert, Salute to Space Program
- 2010 The Painted Violin Society