History (1989 - 2008)  

     Since beginning with an idea and suggestion in 1989, the LaGrange Symphony orchestra has experienced amazing growth. In that year, Dr. David Naglee, Professor of Religion at LaGrange College, came up with a great idea--LaGrange should have a Symphony Orchestra and Harry Kruger should lead it! Mr. Kruger was the recently retired Conductor of the Columbus (Ga.) Symphony Orchestra, and lo and behold, Mr. Kruger was delighted with the idea. When Kruger and Naglee ran the idea by Dr. Walter Murphy, the LaGrange College President, they received an enthusiastic response. And the rest, as they say, is history! The Orchestra was initially called the LaGrange College Community Orchestra, and the first concert was held January 14, 1990 as a gift to the people of LaGrange. Dr. Kruger served as Music Director and Conductor for twelve exciting and successful seasons until he retired to become Music Director Emeritus after the 2000-2001 season. He was succeeded by Mr. Patricio Cobos, Professor of Violin/Viola at Columbus State University and CSU Orchestra Conductor since 1983. At the LaGrange College Commencement Ceremony in 2007 Cobos was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters Degree for his service to the community. During the 2006-7 season the Lafayette Society for the Performing Arts transferred the Lafayette Youth Orchestra to the LaGrange Symphony with Callie Hammond as its conductor. In 2008 the LSO became the Orchestra-in-Residence for LaGrange College. Continuing its outreach, the Orchestra has now developed a summer music camp and a string program for young musicians. Today, the Symphony Orchestra performs a five-concert subscription season, two annual Children’s Concerts and an annual Pops Concert sponsored by the LaGrange Symphony Guild. The Guild is an auxiliary group of local supporters who publicize, promote and help finance the Symphony. The Guild has for many yearsbeen sponsoring a highly popular annual table decorating competition at the Highland Country Club with the theme of "My Favorite Things." This has resulted in the Guild being quite successful in increasing its membership and revenue.

Music Outreach Programs

      According to Nancy Stevens, LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, Co-Chair of the Children's Concert, "We all want to live in communities that value the arts and offer our children the opportunity to benefit from exposure to an involvement in the many aspects of the arts.” The LaGrange Symphony Orchestra Board is committed to providing outstanding concerts and educational outreach programs for the children and adults of Troup County and surrounding areas.

      With this in mind, the Symphony is expanding the educational and musical programs for area school children. Working in cooperation with music teachers and principals throughout the school system, Conductor Cobos and Nancy Stevens hope to generate and share ideas which are enhancing the music curriculum through the following programs:

1. Since 1991, the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, in cooperation with the Troup County Board of Education and the Junior Service League, has given a concert to 3,300 third and fourth grade students (including home schooled children from the area) each year, keyed to their age level and interest. Since 2000, in cooperation with Chambers County Board of Education, schools in the Chambers County, Al. area have been included with separate concerts at Langdale, Al. Auditorium. Weeks before the concert music teachers teach the musical program and the identification of the instruments in order to enhance the experience for the students. Teachers select students to write concert reviews which are published in the LaGrange Daily News and the Valley Times respectively.

2. Small ensembles from the Orchestra perform in elementary schools in the service area. This program is designed for smaller groups, and provides a hands-on approach as the children listen to music, meet and talk with musicians. During a recent Spring, the ensembles performed on 22 occasions for 3,600 children.

3. A Young Artists Competition offers talented young musicians from the five adjoining southeastern states a wonderful opportunity to perform before recognized judges and a public audience. This program was initiated in 1996. Awards are presented for first place ($1500 and the opportunity to perform as a featured soloist with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra), Ssecond place  ($1000) and  third place ($500). The Barbara Malis Award is also given through a grant from the LaGrange Woman’s Club to a contestant who resides in Troup County.

4. Since 2004 the SCALA (Student Competition Awards in the LaGrange Area) competition has been held for students from middle school or high school music students (18 or under) who live within a 50 mile radius of LaGrange in the categories of strings, winds, keyboard/percussion, and voice. Cash awards are presented to the winners at a recital, open to the public, given each Summer.

Board of Directors

Officers