Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra

Mission Statement:

Through the performance and advancement of symphonic music, Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra will enrich, educate and entertain current and potential audiences.

History:

During 1926 and 1927, A.A. Milne wrote a cherished classic, talkie The Jazz Singer was released, Charles Lindbergh flew from New York to Paris in just 32.5 hours and Babe Ruth hit a record 60 home runs. While the Great Depression held the United States firmly in its grasp,Lincoln, Nebraska saw several major construction projects underway, including the Cornhusker Hotel, the Stuart Building and the Burlington Depot. It was also during this time that seven local musicians came together and built the foundation for something special —Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, known then as the Lincoln Little Symphony Orchestra.

This is what they dreamed of, as written in the first program book of their first concert on March 1, 1927:

“Lovers of music, together with the men, women and children, talented in the art of music, making their home in Lincoln, Nebraska, have long cherished the hope that the day might come when Lincoln would be privileged to pride itself as the home of a Symphony Orchestra – that premiere unit in the rendition of music unexcelled.

“They have known that Lincoln was a city recognized throughout the land as a community of education, culture and art; that it was second in rank of cities in the United States in musical talent; that it was honored for its studios of training and its conservatories of practice. Then why should it not possess itself of the symphony—the Alpha and the Omega of musical expression?

“It remained then for a few of those most deeply interested to unselfishly and unsparingly labor in the detail of effecting and perfecting such an organization. Local authoritive musicians were assembled and out of the hours of study, of practice and of toil was born that home and purely Lincoln institution—Lincoln Little Symphony Orchestra, an institution of which all Lincoln may be unprejudicedly proud.”.