New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Classical music, Performing arts |
| Founded | November 30, 1932 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Fate | Filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and discontinued activities |
| Headquarters | Albuquerque , United States |
| Products | Symphony orchestra performances |
The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (NMSO), a symphony orchestra located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, operated from 1932 until it declared bankruptcy in 2011.
History
Initially established as the Albuquerque Civic Symphony by members of the local Rotary Club, its first performance took place on November 30, 1932, at Carlisle Gymnasium. The orchestra's inaugural conductor, Grace Thompson Edmister, was one of the pioneering female leaders of a classical orchestra in the United States. Following her tenure, William Kunkel assumed leadership in 1941, succeeded by Kurt Frederick in 1945. Frederick notably arranged the premiere of Arnold Schoenberg's „A Survivor from Warsaw“, an important composition honoring the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Shoah. In addition to his conducting role, Frederick was a faculty member at the University of New Mexico and founded the Albuquerque Youth Symphony. In 1950, Hans Lange, who had served as assistant to Arturo Toscanini and conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, became conductor. Lange elevated the ACS into a distinguished professional ensemble. From 2000 onward, Guillermo Figueroa led the NMSO as its music director.
On April 20, 2011, the NMSO filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and discontinued its activities. The organization's 78 musicians were informed primarily through email following the board’s resolution, although many first encountered news of the closure via media reports. Shortly after, in May 2011, the New Mexico Philharmonic was formed and commenced its first season with a concert in December.
Music directors
- Grace Thompson Edmister (1932–1941)
- William Kunkel (1941–1945)
- Kurt Frederick (1945–1950)
- Hans Lange (1950–1958)
- Maurice Bonney (1958–1968)
- Yoshimi Takeda (1970–1984)
- Neal Stulberg (1985–1993)
- David Lockington (1995–2000)
- Guillermo Figueroa (2000–2011)