HISTORY OF THE ORCHESTRA LEAGUE
In 1948, the year the Oklahoma City Symphony was eleven years old, the Women’s Committee of the Oklahoma City Symphony was formed with a membership of fifty. The committee was separately incorporated as the Oklahoma City Orchestra League, Inc. in 1987 and has grown to a membership of more than three hundred. Because of labor problems, symphonic music was silent fro
m June 1987 until January 1990; however the Orchestra League continued to function and was in place to support the new Philharmonic under the direction of Maestro Joel Levine at its inaugural performance on January 6, 1990. The Orchestra League Endowment Fund was formed in 1990 and continues to provide support for the Philharmonic. A $250,000 contribution to the fund was approved in 2005 and earmarked to support emerging artists’ concerts, presented as the Oklahoma City Orchestra League Emerging Artists’ Concerts. The League developed several new fundraising initiatives to support orchestral music, including Great Artist Series, benefit concerts, travel tours, car raffles and special social events. Later the League worked in a supportive role with the symphony board, now the Philharmonic, on projects which raised money for support of the orchestra. The annual Symphony Show House, begun in 1974, has raised more than $4.7 million with assistance from hundreds of League members, designers and community volunteers. Approximately ten to twenty thousand people each year tour these beautiful and often historic homes. MUSICAL COMPETITIONS
Musical competitions began in 1958 with the Bloch Auditions, founded by Mrs. Jules Bloch, and have continued through the years. The Oklahoma City Orchestra League Music Competitions are held in February of each year with a winners’ concert presented the following week. Randy and Preston Buttram sponsor the Buttram Competition in memory of their grandparents, Merle and Frank Buttram. The Buttram Competition is open to solo string and string quartet students in grades nine through twelve. The Carver Competition is underwritten by Mrs. William Abney in memory of her daughter, Lauren Carver. The Carver Competition is open to solo woodwind, brass, harp and percussion students in grades nine through twelve. and Mrs. Drake Keith, strong supporters of orchestral music in Oklahoma, sponsor the Keith Competition. Designed to encourage younger students to prepare for future competitions, the Keith Competition is open to solo string students through grade eight. In honor of his wife, LaDonna, a past president of the Oklahoma City Orchestra League, Mr. Herman Meinders sponsors the Meinders Competition, open to piano students in grades nine through twelve. The Gilliam Competition, sponsored by Mr. Mike Gilliam, is designed to support and encourage younger piano students grades eight and lower to reach their musical potential. The Haire Competition is sponsored by Mr. William H. Haire, his children and Mr. Paul Theisen, in memory of their wife, mother and sister, Donna Marie Haire. The Haire Competition is open to classical guitarists in grades nine through twelve. EDUCATION
In keeping with the educational mission to nurture talent and interest in music, the League currently administers nineteen programs in partnership with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. The award winning project for third grade students, We’ve Got Rhythm, provides opportunities for docents and Philharmonic musicians to go into schools and introduce classical music in a variety of ways. Over sixty metro area schools participate in this program. Youth concerts for participating schools are held in the spring of each school year with more than 12,000 children attending. With the new century came two new educational programs. The Color of Music, begun in 2001, is now known as Sound Images. In this program, school children listen to classical music selections which they then express in art form. Approximately 40 schools take part in Sound Images. With the help of docents, Instrument Playground allows children to handle and play a variety of instruments at various arts and public venues. Musical Stories originated as a partnership with the Children’s Center in Bethany to expose medically fragile young patients to new musical experiences. The program is now presented in public libraries and other venues and consists of narrated stories accompanied by a string quartet. The League’s Continuing Education Grant program supports members of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic in advancing their musical training. AWARDS
Since 1981, League achievements have been recognized at the American Symphony Orchestra League’s annual conferences in the areas of fundraising, education and audience development. A partial list of projects that have received national recognition and awards includes the following: Gold Ribbon, one of only ten awarded nationally for an outstanding mentoring program; We’ve Got Rhythm, multiple awards; Sound Images; the Continuing Education Grant program; Master Classes with the Artists; New Member Wine and Cheese at the Show House; Instrument Playground; Speakers Bureau; the Big Easy Shrimp Peel and Music Competitions. From 1948 to the present, through all the activities of fundraising, musical competitions, education programs, awards and celebrations, the Oklahoma City Orchestra League continues its mission of supporting the performance of orchestral music and music education in Oklahoma.
