The number of Hispanic and Latino orchestra members across the country is low, but growing.
Over the summer, the League of American Orchestras released a study of 156 orchestras that showed growth in the number of Hispanic and Latino musicians: 4.8% today, up from 2.5% during the 2013-14 season.
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra is just one group working to address diversity both within its ranks and in its audiences.
FORT WORTH REPORT
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra aims to connect with Latino audiences. Here’s how.
Culture Map Fort Worth
Alann B. Sampson Awarded Prestigious FWSO Medal of Excellence at Opening Night Celebration
Under the direction of Robert Spano, FWSO and 19-year-old pianist, Yunchan Lim lit up the audience inside Bass Hall on opening night. It was Lim’s highly anticipated return to the stage where he became the youngest-ever winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022 (and has since become a piano rock star).
Following the concert, FWSO's most devoted supporters joined a dinner party hosted by chairman Mercedes T. Bass and the FWSO board of directors. The Opening Night Celebration honored Alann B. Sampson for decades of service to the orchestra, the Cliburn, and the greater Fort Worth arts and cultural community. FWSO principal pianist, Shields-Collins “Buddy" Bray introduced Sampson as recipient of the prestigious FWSO Medal of Excellence. Sampson joined the FWSO Board of Directors in 1991 and has been involved with the Cliburn since its inception.
PRESS RELEASE
2023–2024 Season Announcement & Contract Extension for Robert Spano
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra announces the 2023–2024 season programming for the Symphonic, Pops, Chamber, Meet the Artist, and Family Series, five special one-night-only concerts, and a Gala Concert performance featuring Renée Fleming. Music Director Robert Spano has also agreed to an extension of his contract and will remain in his position with the organization through the 2027–2028 season.
360 West
Fort Worth Symphony music director is making himself at home in Cowtown.
During that 2022-23 season, Spano and symphony CEO and President Keith Cerny reimagined performances based on a vision called Theater of a Concert. This brought new experiences to Bass Performance Hall, including a collaborative performance of Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” with Texas Ballet Theater and an interactive staging of the oratorio “Haydn: The Creation.”
More collaborative performances and the third year of the Chamber Series at the Kimbell Art Museum are scheduled for the 2023-24 season.
Fort Worth Business Press
Quest for the best: Mercedes Bass and the Fort Worth Symphony reach for the stars
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s 2022-23 season raises the curtain on a transformative “new vision,” defined by heightened artistic excellence and directed at international acclaim.
The driving force behind this ambitious initiative is philanthropist Mercedes Bass, chairwoman of the orchestra board and a longtime classical music aficionado.
“There is no reason that Fort Worth should not have the best,” she said in an interview. “You can’t just have a vision. You have to have a plan and it is our hope that we will reach our goal.”
Fort Worth Report
‘By playing together, we really understand each other better’: New director of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra discusses plans for his tenure
Fornoff: Mm-hmm. Is there anything that I didn’t ask you about that you want to mention or you think is important to know?
Spano: That’s a great question. I think what’s important to know for anyone who hasn’t been to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra is that they’re welcome here....
Read the full interview from Fort Worth Report by clicking below!
Arts & Culture Texas
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's New Vision
When the doors of Bass Performance Hall open for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of their 2022-23 season this September, it will also mark the beginning of a new era for the 110-year-old organization. The new artistic vision, as FWSO President and CEO Keith Cerny describes it, is one that took months of discussion, planning, and strategizing with their newly-appointed Music Director Designate Robert Spano and members of the board, focusing on everything from programming to audience engagement.
In Loving Memory of Our Beloved
Ann Koonsman
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) is saddened to announce the passing of longtime President and CEO Ann Koonsman who passed away on June 21, 2021, having surmounted significant health challenges in her final years. She served the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in multiple capacities over many years, both as a violinist and executive. In 1980, she became the Executive Director of the FWSO, a position she held with distinction until her retirement in 2004. She returned to the FWSO in 2006 as President and CEO, a position she held until her second retirement in 2011.
Full Release: Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Announces Passing of Esteemed Former President and CEO Ann Koonsman
Fort Worth Business Press Obituary
CultureMap Fort Worth Obituary
WFAA'S SCOOP JEFFERSON REPORTS
Youngest bassoonist and guest conductor making history with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Principal Guest Conductor Kevin John Edusei and Principal Bassoon Joshua Elmore speak with WFAA Reporter Scoop Jefferson on their careers with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Press Conference Video
If you were unable to attend our in person event or view our live stream, you can watch the full announcement below.
FWSO Press Conference Jan. 12, 2022 from WFAA Production on Vimeo.
KRLD's CEO Spotlight - Keith Cerny, Ph.D.
Press Releases
January 12, 2023
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Announces 2023–2024 Season
and Contract Extension for Robert Spano
January 12, 2022
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Announces 2022–2023 Season
Robert Spano’s Inaugural Season as Music Director
February 9, 2021
Robert Spano Appointed Music Director Designate
April 13, 2021
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra to Celebrate 245 Years of America in Patriotic Fourth of July Concert
March 2, 2021
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra to Hold Auditions for Six Vacant Positions
The orchestra rebounds from a tumultuous 2020 into a growth-oriented 2021
January 22, 2021
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Announces Change of Artists at the 2021 Gala Event Feb. 20th
World-renown Pianist Yuja Wang Will Substitute for Yo-Yo Ma
September 7, 2020
Bass Hall Management Decides to Extend Closure; Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s Fall Symphonic Series Moved to Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium
June 22, 2020
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Announces July 4th America Strong Concert
January 24, 2020
FWSO Announces 2020-2021 Season