DUBUQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

DUBUQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. The Dubuque Symphony, the oldest symphony in Iowa, began in 1911 with the formation of a Dubuque orchestra by Edward J. SCHROEDER, a musician who performed with the Chicago Symphony and conducted a violin conservatory on the third floor of his home at 1450 Iowa Street.

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

By 1937 with students from the Dubuque high schools and the colleges, this became the (Catholic Youth Organization) CYO-Civic Symphony Orchestra. With additional musicians from outside the city and within the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE, the group developed into the original Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. Concerts were performed at CLARKE COLLEGE and LORAS COLLEGE.

The symphony remained a feature of the university until 1959. Dr. Parvis MAHMOUD took the university orchestra, featuring student musicians and many guest performers, and developed a community-based orchestra that gave its first concert in 1960. Mahmoud served as the only conductor and music director of the symphony until the hiring of Nicholas PALMER. Palmer was succeeded by William INTRILIGATOR.

In 2015 with twenty-five concerts and performances, the symphony recorded 19,000 people in attendance. This included 2,500 at the Music in the Gardens concert in June at the DUBUQUE ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS, the ensemble's best-attended event of the year. In the same year, 106 young musicians participated in the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra's youth orchestra program--one student short of a record. (1)

The 1942 Dubuque Classified Business Directory through 1962 Dubuque City Directory listed 1450 Iowa.

VIDEO HISTORY OF THE SYMPHONY:http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFE5B00105072B400

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Source:

1. "2015: A By-The-Numbers Review of the Year in the Tri-States," Telegraph Herald, January 3, 2016, p. 2