In the fall of 1966 a notice was published in the Warwick Adult Education Bulletin that
read, “Warwick Civic Orchestra—The Warwick Adult Education Program now
offers talented citizens the opportunity to enroll in the beginning of
a Warwick Civic Orchestra. All musicians interested in this program are
urged to enroll.”
The idea was George Low’s. He was supervisor of music in the Warwick school system, and it
was an idea he had been considering for some time. As he said, “It
seemed a waste of time to teach these kids so much in high school and
then see so many of them give it up.” Some continue to play in college,
he noted, “but stop after they get married. Playing an instrument is
something like riding a bicycle. Once you learn it, you never forget
it.” About twenty people showed up for the first rehearsal, but by the
time of the first concert on December 15th, the number had grown to
thirty. The Warwick Civic Orchestra was a reality.
In 1987 the name was
changed to the Warwick Symphony Orchestra, to reflect the increase both
in the number of players and its capability. Today there are
approximately twice as many members as there were at that first concert
in 1966.
Even today,
however, over forty years later, the purpose of the orchestra remains
the same, “to bring together non-professional musicians who have no
other organized groups with which to perform.” Though it is one of the
many arts organizations in the city of Warwick, it is the only one
dedicated to bringing music to the community and nearby cities and
towns.
First Vincent
Mattera and then Daniel Coyne led the orchestra following George Low’s
retirement. Since 1990, Dinarte Ferro has been the music director and
conductor.
Today, as it has
from its inception, the orchestra performs at schools, hospitals,
senior centers, and senior housing complexes, bringing symphonic music
to audiences, many of whom might not otherwise have the opportunity to
attend live concert performances.
Howard
Goldman
Orchestra Historian
