Role

:

Ensemble

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) is a classical music ensemble based in Fort Worth, Texas. Founded in 1912, the orchestra has a rich history of providing high-quality performances to audiences in the Fort Worth area and beyond. The FWSO was originally founded as the Fort Worth Symphony Club, with the goal of promoting classical music in the community. The first concert was held on May 26, 1912, and featured a program of works by Beethoven, Wagner, and other composers. The orchestra was led by a series of conductors in its early years, including Arthur Foote, who served as the first music director from 1912 to 1914. In 1937, the FWSO hired its first full-time conductor, Eugene Goossens. Goossens was a renowned conductor and composer who had previously led orchestras in Australia and England. During his tenure with the FWSO, Goossens expanded the orchestra's repertoire and brought in guest soloists such as Jascha Heifetz and Artur Rubinstein. He also established the FWSO's annual summer music festival, which continues to this day. After Goossens left the FWSO in 1947, the orchestra went through a period of instability, with several different conductors leading the ensemble over the next few years. In 1953, the FWSO hired its second full-time conductor, John Giordano. Giordano was a respected conductor and composer who had previously led orchestras in New York and Philadelphia. During his tenure with the FWSO, Giordano continued to expand the orchestra's repertoire and brought in guest soloists such as Isaac Stern and Van Cliburn. In 1960, the FWSO moved into its current home, the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall. The hall is known for its excellent acoustics and has become a beloved landmark in the Fort Worth community. In 1970, the FWSO hired its third full-time conductor, John Gosling. Gosling was a British conductor who had previously led orchestras in England and Canada. During his tenure with the FWSO, Gosling continued to expand the orchestra's repertoire and brought in guest soloists such as Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma. In 1990, the FWSO hired its fourth full-time conductor, Miguel Harth-Bedoya. Harth-Bedoya was a Peruvian conductor who had previously led orchestras in Europe and South America. During his tenure with the FWSO, Harth-Bedoya continued to expand the orchestra's repertoire and brought in guest soloists such as Joshua Bell and Lang Lang. He also established the FWSO's annual Latin American Music Festival, which celebrates the music of Latin America and has become a popular event in the Fort Worth community. In 2019, the FWSO announced that Harth-Bedoya would be stepping down as music director at the end of the 2019-2020 season. The orchestra has not yet announced a replacement. Over the years, the FWSO has received numerous awards and accolades for its performances. In 2000, the orchestra won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Album for its recording of John Corigliano's Symphony No. 1. The FWSO has also been nominated for several other Grammy Awards over the years. In addition to its regular concert season, the FWSO is also involved in a variety of community outreach programs. These programs include educational concerts for schoolchildren, free outdoor concerts in local parks, and collaborations with other arts organizations in the Fort Worth area. The FWSO is made up of approximately 70 full-time musicians, as well as a number of part-time and substitute musicians.

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