The Grand Rapids Symphony
75th Anniversary
1930 - 2005

The Grand Rapids Public Library takes special pride in celebrating our great Symphony's 75th Anniversary. With its roots beginning in the early 1920's, the Grand Rapids Symphony began regular performances in 1930 and has continued performing to this very day. Karl Wecker, director of the Grand Rapids Junior College Music Department, became the symphony's first Conductor and remained until 1940. Performances were given at the Powers' Theatre on Pearl Street, later moving to the new Grand Rapids Civic Auditorium.The library has many photos and programs in its Archival collections - here are a few memories from the past. For current information about the Grand Rapids Symphony click here.

This is a copy of one of the concerts in the 1925-26 season - an early attempt to launch the Grand Rapids Symphony. There were no concerts in the next few seasons until the symphony once again began to give concerts on a regular basis in 1930.

On February 6, 1930, the Symphony received a congratulatory letter from Mr. Walter Damrosch, who worked at the time for NBC's Music Department. Mr. Damrosch was not only a conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and composer of a number of operas, but he also was an early champion of the radio broadcasting of symphonic music and appreciation concerts.

A copy of an early program at South High School Auditorium on March 24 and 25, 1933. Ossip Gabrilowitsch, famed pianist and conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, performed, beginning a long line of famous performers who have appeared with the Symphony.

Famous Metropolitan Opera star, Ezio Pinza, performed arias by Mozart, Verdi, and Gounod, on April 29, 1938. Mr. Pinza later achieved more fame appearing with Mary Martin in South Pacific in the late 1940's.

Baritone Robert Weede meets with symphony conductor Thor Johnson in November 1940. Mr. Weede performed arias and songs by Handel, Verdi, Powell, Franck, Mozart and Rossini. Mr. Weede later went on to more fame as the original star of the 1956 Broadway production of The Most Happy Fella by Frank Loesser. (Neg. #H-000794)

Support groups formed very early - here is a photo of the Symphony Women's Committee on April 26, 1941. (Neg. #H-007237)

On April 18, 1941, famed cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, played the Dvorak Concerto in B minor with the symphony and autographed the program. Mr. Piatigorsky performed with his famous Montagnana cello, valued at that time at $30,000, now worth millions.

The twelfth Season was a special year with famous performances by opera stars Giovanni Martinelli and Gladys Swarthout, and pianist Percy Grainger.

The war years brought full support by our symphony - here one of the violinists shares a jeep ride with a member of the military. (Neg. #H-007238)

Nicolai Malko, new conductor, joined the symphony in 1942 and worked with the orchestra through the war years until 1946. The Program of October 23, 1942 notes the following: For the first time in the history of the Orchestra we shall recognize, even although belatedly, the skill of women on the fiddle when we welcome as our soloist the gifted sixteen year old Patricia Travers. Ms. Travers played the Mendelssohn Concerto in E Minor. (Neg. #H-016925.2)

The Symphony's children's concerts were popular from the beginning - student's entering the auditorium on February 19, 1943. (Neg. #H-007239)

The symphony celebrated pianist Josef Hofmann's 68th birthday on January 20, 1944. The next day, he performed the Chopin Concerto in F Minor with the orchestra. (Neg. #H-008178)

Eduard Werner also conducted a number of symphony concerts in the early 1940's - this photo from December 8, 1943. (Neg. #H-018482)

Conductor Nicolai Malko speaks to a group of symphony committee members on February 16, 1945. (Neg. #H-016930)

Many supported the early involvement of students with the Symphony - here a group begins selling student tickets in 1945. (Neg. #H-007240b)

The Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra at home in the Civic Auditorium, Nicolai Malko, Conductor, on April 12, 1946.(Neg. #E-0998)

An early photo of the Symphony practicing at Central High School on October 4, 1945, Nicolai Malko, Conductor.(Neg. #H-007240)

On May 8, 1948, the Grand Rapids Chicks signed up their support of the Symphony at their new field. (Neg. #H-006946c)

Jose Echaniz, from Cuba, became the symphony's conductor from 1948-1954. Mr. Echaniz was also a noted pianist and performed with the symphony on a number of occasions. (Neg. #H-004970)

The 1949-50 season was a stellar season also with performances by pianist Jose Echaniz, also the Symphony Conductor, famed baritone Lawrence Tibbett, pianist Amparo Iturbi, and the great violinist Mischa Elman.

Pianist Amparo Iturbi signed the symphony program - she played the Liszt Piano Concerto on January 20, 1950. Ms. Iturbi was the sister of famed pianist, conductor and Hollywood star Jose Iturbi.

A symphony committee meeting at the Pantlind Hotel's Mocha Room on April 17, 1950. (Neg. #H-016941)

Grand Rapids hosted one of the world's famous pianists on November 4, 1964 when Van Cliburn played the Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 3 with conductor Carl Karapetian.