Ashland Symphony

Women's League

Educational Outreach

Ashland Symphony Orchestra

History

(1925-1949)

The Ashland Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has had a rich history over the past eighty-four years. The first known attempt at forming a local orchestra was announced in the January 14, 1925 edition of the Ashland Times-Gazette. The article stated that, “a careful check has been made of Ashland musicians, and it is expected a forty piece orchestra can be made. This is not to be a church orchestra, a lodge orchestra, or a dance orchestra, but an Ashland orchestra made up of Ashland’s best musicians.” The organizers were Mrs. Robert Smilie, Jacob Heitz, local band director, Mrs. J.A. Chater, local violin instructor and Louis E. Pete, city schools music director.

An Ashland Times-Gazette article dated May 17, 1947, included the following news item:

“Twenty-two years ago tonight, May 17, 1925, the first concert of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra was given in the Church of Christ. Mr. Louis E. Pete was the conductor and Mr. Paul S. Bishop, baritone, was the soloist. 

“The second concert was given by the orchestra on May 18, 1926 in the Church of Christ.

“The third concert was given May 24, 1927 in the new McDowell Auditorium under the auspices of the Ashland Musical Club. The committee from that club included Mrs. Guy C. Myers, Mrs. C.C. Patton and Mrs. D.R. Frazer. The orchestra was assisted by Mrs. R.R. Haun, soprano, and Miss Mabel Zehner, pianist.” 

A review for the ASO’s third concert stated “An hour of the higher and more exquisite music was brought to local lovers of the symphony last evening when Ashland’s own symphony orchestra directed by L.E. Pete accomplished a feat of musical performance which was almost breathtaking in its excellence. The Musical Club can surely feel that its efforts in sponsoring the concert were well repaid.”  Due to the irregular schedule of one concert per year for a period of three years, it is generally recognized that the Ashland Symphony Orchestra was not established as a permanent group until the 1936-37 season.

On September 24, 1936, the Ashland Times-Gazette published the following news release:                            

“Ashland is to have its own civic symphony orchestra, composed of Ashland instrumentalists [and] assisted at concerts by talent from the Cleveland Orchestra; it was announced today by Louis E. Pete, who has been named to organize and direct this new musical venture. Pete, director of music both at Ashland High School and Ashland College this year, has sent out letters inviting musicians to meet with him Monday night in the high school music room to discuss formation of the organization.” 

The first concert was held Saturday, January 10, 1937, in McDowell Auditorium attended by more than 1,150 patrons. The program included: 

Strauss: Overture to Die Fledermaus

Schubert: Unfinished Symphony

Weber: Invitation to the Dance

Rimsky-Korsakov: Excerpts from Scheherazade

Schuetky: Emittee Spiritum Tuum

Sibelius: Finlandia 

The Ashland High School and Ashland College Choirs joined the orchestra on the last two compositions.  The orchestra was soon recognized as a “high quality” group and reached a highlight when, in 1939, Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9” was performed with the assistance of a community chorus and was broadcast for a national audience on the Blue Radio Network of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). During this entire period, the orchestra was making regular broadcasts both locally and coast-to-coast at Ashland’s radio stations WATG, now WNCO, in its then spacious polycylindrical studio, which was built specifically for the orchestra’s broadcasting activities; these early concerts were heavily supported by the Myers and Miller families. It is believed that the final concert was presented February 22, 1943, and then disbanded due to World War II. 

After the war ended, several attempts were made to re-organize the orchestra, but efforts resulted in only one concert that was presented on May 1, 1949 under the direction of Pete. Television and the nation’s fascination with early television performers are believed to have caused a lack of interest and attendance.

Next (1970-1976)