About the lawton philharmonic

 

The History of the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra 1961-2006

The Lawton Philharmonic Society, Inc. was founded in 1961 when the Schubert Club called a meeting for the purpose of investigating the feasibility of establishing a symphony orchestra. The first concert was a volunteer effort and was held November 21, 1962 with Nels Harveland as Music Director and Conductor.

Mr. Harveland held the position until 1972. After his departure an arrangement by Cameron University provided the LPO with a conductor who was also on the faculty of the university's Department of Music. The Board was the management for the orchestra at this time. In 1979, the first full-time manager was hired. Later, another full-time position was added to assist the Executive Director with the management of the orchestra.

Since Harveland's departure at the conclusion of the 1971-72 season, the orchestra has had four other conductors including Gail Campbell (1972) Gene Smith (1973-78), Jack W. Bowman (1978-92), and Alan Burdick (1993-99). When Burdick resigned in 1999 the Board thought carefully about the LPO's future and how to better serve the community with a stronger and healthier orchestra. Miriam Burns was chosen after a year long process of interviews and auditions during the 1999-2000 season. Ms. Burns remained the conductor until the cancellation of the 2003 -2004 season.

From the first concert in 1962, until the cancellation of the 2003 -2004 season, the LPO grew from an all volunteer group to an orchestra of approximately 65 union musicians. The last full season featured a series of five classical concerts which included traditional and light classical pieces and a pops concert targeted for family audiences.

The LPO also performed a Children's Concert for 4th and 5th grade students each spring and provided other outreach programs such as conductor visits in the schools and traveling Instrument Petting Zoo which is still available for many community functions.

The orchestra occasionally performed in surrounding communities and for special events. In 2001, the LPO presented an outdoor concert to an audience of approximately 4,000 citizens celebrating Lawton's Centennial. Fort Sill's 77th Army Band and field artillery cannons took part in this spectacular performance which included Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Another 2001 performance was in Chickasha at the University of Arts and Sciences of Oklahoma.

Since inception, the governing Board of Directors has expanded its membership from fifteen to forty individuals who determine and guide LPS policy. The Board members are active volunteers, working on ticket sales, patron support, fundraising events, hospitality thnctions and other duties. In recent years, advisory members from Lawton and surrounding communities have been appointed to provide additional input.

Two years after the orchestra began, the Lawton Philharmonic Women's Association was formed for the purpose of creating a group of volunteers to assist the orchestra financially and socially. The group disbanded in the early 1980s and in March 2001 was reorganized under the name of the Lawton Philharmonic League. The League has supported the LPO with such activities as flindraising events, office assistance, and educational programs.

In 1968, the LPO Board of Directors purchased string instruments in an effort to establish a pilot youth strings program. Three members of the orchestra served as instructors for this highly successful program. In 1979, the program was incorporated into the Lawton Public School's music program.

April 1986 marked the inaugural Louise D. McMahon International Music Competition. This Competition for musicians 25 years of age and older was designed to attract mature, experience artists and was underwritten by the Louise D. McMahon Foundation.

In 2000, the Golden Baton program was established. Participating patrons agreed to donate $1,000 annually for a ten-year period. One half of each annual gift was placed in the endowment fund and the remaining half was used for operating expenses.

The Philharmonic had a proud heritage as the only symphony orchestra serving the southwest quadrant of Oklahoma and had become a professional orchestra of exceptional quality when the 2003/2004 union negotiations threatened to put an end to the organization.

In August and September of 2003, negotiations between the Lawton Philharmonic Society and the Dallas/Fort Worth Professional Musicians Association took a dramatic turn for the worse. On August 27, the September 6th season opener was canceled due to a lack of agreement over terms.

But, the music loving Board did not give up. Jeanne Webb continued to search for possible avenues to remove the orchestra from the “blacklist.” In a meeting with Ray Hair, the president of the Union, it was suggested that perhaps an accord with the Wichita Falls orchestra could result in a concert in Lawton. After Jeanne, Jody Sherry, the 2004/2005 LPS President, explored this possibility. In the meantime, the LPS produced two free concerts by the 77th Army band, one for school children, and one for the general public. Three other community concerts were organized and produced free for the public by the LPS. There was a continuous and energetic attempt to keep the organization alive and remain a source of classical music productions for the Lawton/Fort Sill community.

Finally, in 2005, the deadlock was broken. Thanks to the intervention of the musicians themselves, plus an innovative partnership with Cameron University, and the willingness by the Union to resume negotiations, the Lawton Philharmonic Society was able to sponsor two concerts in 2006. Two single engagement contracts were negotiated for concerts on February 18, 2006 and one on March 11, 2006.

Unequivocally, the two concerts in February and March of 2006 were very successful. The first included a choir 110 voices made up of Cameron students, and community members, and was conducted by Dr. Earl Logan of Cameron University. The second was conducted by Lawton native, and accomplished conductor, Jon Kalbfleisch, and thrilled the large audience by its quality and emotion.

Based on the overwhelmingly positive response to Jon Kalbfleisch by the musicians and the public, he was invited to become the music director and conductor for the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons. With great joy the LPS announced that news in May of 2006.