About the Lansing Symphony Orchestra

The Lansing Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 79th Season with a host of memorable events, programs and guest artists. Established in 1929, under the artistic direction of Izler Solomon, the LSO has become mid-Michigan’s singular professional source of live orchestral music. This Season, it will perform for over 15,000 people through 17 concerts; it will inspire over 15,000 students in music education programs in five mid-Michigan counties and it will reach an additional 250,000 residents with rebroadcasts of its MasterWorks Series concerts on NPR affiliate WKAR-90.5FM Radio.

Your Symphony has obviously changed and grown in 78 years, but one thing has remained the same. It still offers its patrons the finest classical music each Season from the best musicians in the state. All musicians who perform with the LSO are professionals who have auditioned for their positions. Nothing would be possible without them and all of the skills they possess. They literally make the music happen!

The LSO’s 78 years have seen a number of people come and go, but some of the most memorable changes have come in shape of its home. In 1982 the LSO welcomed the Wharton Center for Performing Arts to the campus of Michigan State University. Wharton Center became the home of the LSO that Season and has remained our main venue ever since. Many of you remember some of the other homes of the LSO, principally the Everett and Sexton High School Auditoriums. Some of you may remember other, or even earlier, venues.

The LSO calls two additional facilities in mid-Michigan home as well. The Lansing Symphony Big Band concerts are performed at Dart Auditorium on the Lansing Community College Campus. The LSO Chamber Series concerts are performed in the intimate environment of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing.


Lansing Symphony Orchestra Music Directors & Conductors

1929-1936
1936-1939
1939-1941
1941-1962
1962-1964
1964-1967

Izler Solomon
Marius Fossenkemper
Pedro Paz
Romeo Tata
Gregory Millar
Hugo Vianello

1967-1978
1978


1979-2006
2006-present
 
A. Clyde Roller
  Gustav Meier
  Max Bravado-Darman
  Larynx Palomo
  Gustav Meier 
  Timothy Muffitt


 

Lansing Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Christopher J. Day
   President
James F. Anderton, IV
   President Elect
Bill MacLeod
   Past President
Chuck Hillary
   Second VP of Development
Sharon R. Hobbs, Ph.D
   Secretary
Virginia Allen
   Ambassador Liaison

Kenneth Schroeder
   Vice Secretary
Joseph Anthony
   Treasurer
R. Samuel Holland, Ph.D
   Vice President of Development
John Loose
   Legal Counsel
Joyce Banish
   Marketing Committee Chair
John Pence
   Endowment Board President

Board of Directors

Gerald R. Aben, M.D.
David Akerly
Carol A. Beals, M.D.
Chrissie Brogan
Ken Brooks
Kira Carter
David Chapin
C. Michael Cook
Sherry Crisp
Jack C. Davis
Anne Hackman
Michael G. Harrison
Kimbery Hartman
Ann Henricksen
Linda Cooke Johnson**
J. Peter Lark

Curtis A. Liechty, M.D.
Wally Markham
James E. McGillicuddy, M.D.
George Nugent
William Paxton
Joyce Plumhoff**
Cristin Reid
Dirk Samson
Sam Spurbeck*
Boots Teddy**
Leo Tierney
William P. Weiner
Keith Wilson

* Orchestra Committee Chair
** Affiliate Group Presidents


Past Presidents
1933-34
1935-37
1937-38
1938-40
1940-41
1941-42
1942-44
1944-46
1946-48
1948-49
1949-51
1951-53
1953-55
1955-56
1956-57
1957-59
1959-61
1961-63
1963-65
1965-67
1967-69
Dr. LeMoyne Snyder
Mrs. L.G. Bailey
Mrs. C.L. Brody
Mrs. Malcolm Denise
Mrs. Grover O. Truxell
Mr. O. W. Mourer
Mrs. George Kieppe
Mrs. E.A. Mackey
Miss Pauline Austin
Mrs. William King, Jr.
Mrs. Harold S. Cole
Dr. Peter Treleaven
Mrs. Gilbert Burrell
Mrs. Leonard Mayhew
Mrs. B. Newton Barber
Dr. Sydney R. Govons
Mr. C. Vincent Wright
Mr. Lee H. Witter
Mr. Donavan A. Eastin
Dr. William Lazer
Mr. Raymond Joseph
1934-35
1969-71
1971-72
1972-74
1974-76
1976-77
1977-79
1979-82
1982-84
1984-86
1986-88
1988-89
1989-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-99
1999-01
2001-06
2006-07
Mrs. John Brisbin
Mr. Max C. Ploughman
Mr. C. Vincent Wright
Mr. George C. Clemenson
Mr. Michael G. Harrison
Mr. William Straub
Mr. Max C. Ploughman
Mrs. David Kahn
Mr. H. Perry Driggs
Mr. Gerald M. Finch
Mrs. Richard Byerrum
Mr. R. Kenneth Gruber
Mr. Edward B. McRee
Mr. Craig Ruff
Mr. Ronald Pentecost
Mr. Jim Miller
Mr. Thomas Fraser
Mr. Craig Ruff
Mr. James Savage
Mrs. Virginia Allen
Mr. William MacLeod