Kathy Housby
The musicians of the newly formed Tyler Symphony Orchestra first performed on March 16, 1936, at Tyler Commercial College. They could not have imagined that what they were starting would be going stronger than ever 90 years later. Now known as the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, the ensemble continues to inspire audiences through the power of live orchestral music.
The origins of the ensemble lie in the hearts and hard work of the Tyler Women’s Forum, led by the group’s president, Mrs. W.C. Windsor. The subsequently formed Tyler Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, with Dr. H.R. Coats as president and Mrs. Windsor as vice-president, put together the final pieces to bring the ensemble to the stage for its first four-concert season in 1936.
The orchestra took a hiatus in the 1940s, due to World War II. It wasn’t long after the war ended that the community looked to rebuild the ensemble. The efforts were led by former orchestra musician, Mrs. Lee Powel and the Tyler Chamber of Commerce’s then-president, Mr. Roger Harris. The Tyler Symphony Orchestra was reborn as the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, officially incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1954.
“The shoulders we stand on did the hard part. They established it. They were the ones that kept the flame alive,” says current ETSO Executive Director Robin Hampton. “I consider it our responsibility and our honor to keep that torch going so the next generation can experience live orchestral music.”
The orchestra has transitioned over the years from being comprised of volunteer musicians, to a paid ensemble, to the now professional group. The current orchestra includes a core of 55 musicians, some of whom have played with the orchestra for over 30 years, supplemented by talented young musicians who help swell the numbers to an average of 60 to 80 players per concert.
Like all organizations, the ETSO has evolved in many ways over the years. From volunteer and part-time management and a budget of $25,000, the orchestra currently operates with a staff of four and a budget of over $1 million. The organization is currently guided by a 20-member board of directors. Executive Director Robin Hampton has just entered her fourth year of service, and Music Director Richard Lee is beginning his fifteenth season, making him the second longest serving conductor of the ensemble. Both Hampton and Lee recently renewed their contracts with the organization, providing a consistency of leadership as the orchestra moves forward in this next phase of its life.
“Time certainly has flown,” remarks Lee of his tenure. “I am gratified by the support the community has shown me and the ETSO, and I am looking forward to the future.”
Throughout its history, the orchestra has performed at various venues around the community. The first concert took place at Tyler Commercial College. Other venues include Tyler Junior College, Bergfeld Park, and Caldwell Auditorium. The orchestra currently calls the UT Tyler Cowan Center home for its primary concert series.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought performances to a halt in 2020 and 2021. The full orchestra’s return to the stage brought back a favorite tradition from the 1980s: a free concert in Tyler’s Bergfeld Park. In its new iteration, Symphony in the Park has become a staple of Labor Day weekend celebrations in the community. August 30, 2025, marks the fifth year for the free program, which has grown to draw over 2,500 people of all ages for a concert of classical favorites, pop music, film scores, and patriotic songs.
School and education programs became part of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra program of works under its longest-serving conductor, Dr. Joseph Kirshbaum (1950-1978). This season, ETSO enters its 15th year presenting Link Up from Carnegie Hall. This in-demand, curriculum-based program sees students putting classroom studies into practice through a participatory concert with Richard Lee and the ETSO. Link Up is offered to all fourth and fifth-grade students in Tyler ISD and surrounding districts, reaching over 3,000 children each season.
“There’s nothing that stirs up emotions, which stirs up memories in our lives like music. Nothing else holds a candle to it,” says Hampton. “Creating those experiences for the next generation is our responsibility.”
Reflecting on the 90th anniversary of that first performance has proven a reminder of how far the organization has come thanks to the support of the East Texas community. This milestone is not just a time to reflect; it’s also a time to look to the future.
“There is definitely a momentum going,” says Hampton. “We are looking forward; we are moving forward.”
The East Texas Symphony Orchestra begins its 2025/2026 on Saturday, September 20th, at the UT Tyler Cowan Center with Dancing Queen: The Music of ABBA. The five-concert series also includes classical favorites from Beethoven, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky, an evening of film and television themes, and a series finale celebrating the 90th anniversary in March 2026. Season and single tickets for opening night are on sale now through the Cowan Center box office. Single tickets for the remaining concerts go on sale on September 22. Learn more about the orchestra at ETSO.org.