Many aspects play into the creation and involvement of a city’s entertainment sector. In El Paso, there are many sites, events, people, institutions, landmarks and histories that not only add to but enrich the town as a whole. One of the most prominent and cherished organizations is the El Paso Symphony Orchestra (EPSO). It has played a vital role in many city ventures and has been highly integral in educating the community musically since its official formation in 1931. It continues to do so today, celebrating 90 years as the “oldest continuously running orchestra in the state of Texas,” said Ruth Ellen Jacobson, Executive Director of EPSO.
Image caption: Bohuslav Rattay conducting EPSO (Photo courtesy of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra)
According to Gina Moeri of the El Paso Times, El Paso’s very first attempt at creating an orchestra was a tedious endeavor, after orchestras in other Texas cities were being founded. The origins of EPSO can be traced back to 1893, according to an article in the 1968 El Paso Herald Post, when Fredrich R. Koch organized what was first known as the El Paso Symphony Orchestra. The first concert of this early orchestra, said the Post, “was played in the courthouse before a large crowd who came to hear ‘the greatest musical treat originating with local talent.’” The Post further stated that “the players never reached symphonic proportions and was disbanded in 1905.” The orchestra “rose and fell” numerous times, primarily due to lack of public support and budgetary reasons, at one time receiving only three dollars to organize a concert.
Peter Gustat, former director of EPSO and a member of the American Bandmasters Association, tried a second time to establish a concrete foundation for El Paso’s orchestra. Along with his contributions to create the orchestra, he started directing weekly concerts which, in turn, aroused more attention and caused their numbers to swell to 45 which was highly significant; it allowed them to be officially called an orchestra. The first bona fide El Paso Symphony Orchestra was presented to the town in 1919, after over eight attempts to be established.
The Texas State Historical Association’s Handbook of Texas states that the orchestra succeeded and thrives because of two significant moments: the creation of the Symphony Society in 1929 and the arrival of conductor Hine Arthur Brown, a music teacher trained at Juilliard. He first went to what is now New Mexico State University in Las Cruces to teach violin. According to the Handbook, after contacting the El Paso Symphony Society, Brown “secured contributions, musicians and instruments and rented the Scottish Rite Auditorium for the first successful concert on January 26, 1931,” conducted by Brown himself. He interviewed much of the El Paso and surrounding communities' artists in hopes of revamping the symphony’s brand. He acquired musicians from the closed-down McGinty Club. As reported in a 1995 El Paso Times article, “At the time of Brown’s arrival, it was near the end of the Great Depression, which only fueled him greater to reinvent EPSO’s brand with local discouraged musicians who were on the brink of abandoning their passions for a more stable career.” Shortly thereafter, the El Paso Symphony Association became a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation “that handled the business of the orchestra.” (See Borderlands articles on Brown and the McGinty Club).
Brown is credited with much of the symphony’s early success. The EPSO’s “History” webpage noted that Brown’s first show both mesmerized spectators and proved to the locals its potential to boost the city’s image. He provided the symphony with further opportunities to perform for much larger crowds, elevated their musical skills and made sure each performance surpassed the previous. According to the Handbook of Texas, “Brown worked for the symphony for over 21 years, remaining its conductor until 1951. He left a lasting impact through his compelling energy on both the musicians whose careers he had saved and the audiences he captivated.”
Dating back to its inception, EPSO has had the honor of having some of the most skilled and distinguished conductors. After Brown stepped down in 1951, Orlando Barrera (1951 to 1969), a talented conductor and violinist most recognized for his challenging pieces, gained public support and increased the orchestra’s budget. Around the orchestra’s 41st consecutive season, William Kirsch (1969 to 1974) completed his first EPSO concert and led the orchestra for the next few seasons.
Image caption: Abraham Chavez (Photo courtesy of the University of Texas at El Paso Library, Special Collections)
In March of 1975, EPSO assigned one of its most iconic conductors to date, Abraham Chavez Jr. (1975 to 1992), to lead and direct the symphony. Maestro Chavez, a UTEP professor, advocated for better pay for the musicians and was historically known for his musical involvement with El Paso’s youth. He initially joined the orchestra at the age of 13 as a violist, just four years older than the famed Don Tosti (see the article on Tosti in this issue of Borderlands). Maestro Chavez was fundamental in creating the best-funded, non-profit organization in the entire city of El Paso.
Gurer Aykal (1992 to 2004) succeeded Maestro Chavez in 1992. Doug Pullen of the El Paso Times wrote, “Aykal was a highly-respected leader who changed the sound of the EPSO symphony by improving the versatility of the brass sections, reworking the woodwind section, and teaching the string players to bow more effectively.” He brought that musical thrill and enjoyment back to the community by doing so, allowing for further opportunities for the orchestra, such as recording albums, backing up famous artists such as Juan Gabriel (see the article on Juan Gabriel in this issue of Borderlands) and touring alongside his other ensemble in Germany and Turkey.
Following Maestro Aykal was the symphony’s first and only female Maestro, Sarah Ioannides (2005 to 2011), who was particularly responsible for expanding the city's youth orchestra. The New York Times described her as a conductor with “unquestionable strength and authority” and as a conductor with “magic,” winning praise from audiences and critics internationally.
Andres Moran (2011 to 2013), then General Manager for the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra, briefly followed as EPSO’s Resident Conductor and Music Director. He set the stage for the symphony’s current Maestro, Czech-American conductor Bohuslav Rattay.
Maestro Rattay has been highly influential among the El Paso musical community. Best known as Bo in some circles, a 2013 El Paso Times article characterized him as having “a broad level of musical experience, ranging from studying at Prague, Rice, and John Hopkins University, to eventually conducting and leading other prominent symphonies in Lake Charles, Midland, and even Indiana.” This made it easy for orchestral donors and board members of the community to enthusiastically choose Maestro Rattay to be the current conductor. Maestro Rattay was selected because of his commitment to teaching, connecting and charming local audiences through his inimitable musical style. He attracts old and new generations by integrating modern and traditional musical genres, which alone is a challenging quest. Maestro Rattay continues impacting the community through teaching, promoting and enhancing his one-of- a-kind program.
Today EPSO currently performs for the city at the heart of the downtown area in the Plaza Theatre but has performed at other renowned locations around town, such as the historical Liberty Hall, the Scottish Rite Auditorium, and the Abraham Chavez Theatre. A typical year for EPSO centers around a six-program, twelve-concert season, with the philharmonic orchestra performing a combination of classical music and pop, playing music from the Beatles, ABBA, the Broadway musical Wicked, the movie Coco, the revered Mexican singer Selena and plenty more. The variety of selections attracts a diverse audience.
According to the EPSO website, 97% of its current members are also educators in the community. Some of the members are either a part of the public school system in El Paso school districts, professors at UTEP or EPCC, or musical tutors providing personal instruction. Many of these educators have steady careers within the field of education but utilize the symphony to further pursue their love of music, influencing others through their craft.
EPSO concentrates on the inclusion of the community regardless of age, background or musical preference. There is a little bit for everyone. EPSO is constantly striving to expand its program in hopes of influencing the diverse population of the city. It also prides itself in having some of the best programs focused on children who typically don’t receive this type of support, aiding in building teamwork skills and self-confidence. (See the article on Tocando in this issue of Borderlands).
Another significant part of the organization is the city’s El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras (EPYSO), founded in 2005 and consisting of eight ensembles with around 300 members in total. Benjamin Loeb of the El Paso Times reported in his 2008 article, “EPYSO is the only youth orchestral program in the region to have received both honors and recognition from several prominent arts departments.”
The EPYSO organization consists of four orchestras: the El Paso Youth Orchestra, the El Paso Youth Symphony, the El Paso Youth String Ensemble, and the El Paso Youth String Harmonic. The faculty consists of highly experienced musicians who have music degrees, many of them belonging to the education sector either in El Paso or neighboring cities, like Clint, Deming, Alamogordo and Juarez. Both the EPSO and EPYSO organizations provide students within the city exceptional opportunities to excel. Their goals coincide with EPISD’s plan for excellence, which allows EPYSO to rehearse and use the school district’s facilities free of charge.
The adversity that EPSO has had to overcome in the last 90 years has been influential in creating the foundation that represents the organization today. EPSO prides itself in continuing to elevate and inspire others through the many aspects of its talented program. The El Paso Symphony Orchestra program, in its entirety, is significant in educating the community and enhancing the culture of El Paso. We look forward to the next 90 years.
Handbook of Texas Music by 
