San Antonio Symphony Orchestra Programs

Identity elements

Reference code

US TxSaT SC.030

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Collection

Title

San Antonio Symphony Orchestra Programs

Date(s)

  • 1915-1918 (Creation)

Extent

Name of creator

(1905-present)

Administrative history

The San Antonio Symphony Orchestra was established by musician and arts patron Anna Goodman Hertzberg and musical director Carl Hahn in 1905. The amateur ensemble performed regularly through the 1910s and 1920s under the direction of Arthur Claassen and Julien Paul Blitz, but was discontinued at some point. The revived San Antonio Symphony was formed by musical director Max Reiter in 1939. The ensemble quickly grew to be the only "major" professional orchestra in Texas. The Symphony was led from 1950 to 1976 by Victor Alessandro; during this time, the Young People's Concert series established and the symphony began recording performances with Mercury Records. Alessandro was succeeded as director by François H. Huybrechts (1978-1980), Lawrence Leighton Smith (1980-1985), Christopher Wilkins (1992-2000), Larry Rachleff (2004-2008), and Sebastian Lang-Lessing (2010-2020). The Symphony has suffered recurring financial difficulties from the 1980s through present day, including a bankruptcy cancelling the 2003-2004 season. Prominent musicians who have been members of the San Antonio Symphony include Robert L. Annis (clarinet, 1971-1973), Franz Benteler (violin, 1946-1947), Maximilian Dimoff (bass, 1990-1993), Julius Hegyi (violin, 1948-1951), Eugene Lacritz (clarinet, 1952-1958), Eric Rosenblith (violin, 1952-1955), Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio (violin, 1994-2007), Mark Sparks (flute, 1985-1987), Daniel Stolper (oboe, 1959-1964), Donald Wilerstein (violin, 1963-1964), and Clifton Williams (horn, 1949-1966).

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

Collection consists of eighteen concert programs from the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, dated between 1915 and 1918.

System of arrangement

Items are arranged chronologically.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

This collection is open and available to the public for research in the Special Collections & Archives reading room. The materials are non-circulating.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

The materials in this collection may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The materials are available for personal, educational, and scholarly use. It is the responsibility of the researcher to locate and obtain permission from the copyright owner or his or her heirs for any other use, such as reproduction and publication.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Immediate source of acquisition

Donated by Mrs. E.J. Arendt, the widow of symphony director Arthur Claassen.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

Related descriptions

Notes element

Specialized notes

  • Citation: San Antonio Symphony Orchestra Programs. Coates Library Special Collections & Archives, Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas).

Alternative identifier(s)

Description control element

Rules or conventions

DACS.

Sources used

Archivist's note

Processed by Colleen Hoelscher, October 2021.

Access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Accession area