The mission of the Roswell Symphony Orchestra (RSO) is to provide the people of Roswell and Southeast New Mexico with the best of orchestral literature by providing an annual concert season, RSO music education programs for children and youth and a multi-cultural chamber concert series.

Since its inception, an educational and cultural development program for the youth who are growing up in Roswell and Southeast New Mexico has been a primary goal of the RSO. The long-term goal of the RSO to extend this program to all fifteen area schools was met in the summer of 1996 and the 4 private schools in Roswell joined the program in 2000.

Now in it's 49th season, the Roswell Symphony Orchestra's musicians come from all major cities within a 200 mile radius of Roswell: Lubbock, Amarillo, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, El Paso, Portales, Alamogordo, and Roswell.

It all began in the basement of the First Methodist Church on July 28th, 1959. That first group included lawyers, accountants, teachers, florists, housewives and geologists. Although not professional musicians, they were determined to give Roswell and southeast New Mexico a professional sounding orchestra. For a city the size of less than forty-thousand the formation of the Roswell Symphony Orchestra was quite an accomplishment.

Maestra John Farrer became the director of the RSO for the 1972 season. He followed William Kirschke, Thomas Lewis, and Glenn Cunningham, the first director of the RSO. Under the leadership of Maestro Farrer the RSO has earned a reputation for musical excellence by sharing with the under served target audience of southeast New Mexico the talents of professional musicians, many of whom have performed renowned symphonies across the United States as well as in Canada and Europe.

The first concert season in 1960-1961 featured three concerts held in New Mexico Military Institutes's Pearson Auditorium. Since then the season has grown to include a Subscription Concert Series of five classical concerts in Pearson Auditorium featuring world renowned guest artists, a three concert Chamber Music Series held at the Roswlel Museum and Art Center, four Children's Educational Concerts for nearly 5,000 second, third, fourth and fifth graders in Roswell, Dexter and Hagerman, and a free Labor Day Pops Concert at Spring River Park and Zoo.

For almost 45 years the Roswell Symphony Orchestra has earned a reputation for musical excellence by sharing with Roswell and Southeastern New Mexico the talents of New Mexico's professional musicians. These musicians represent a variety of ethnic backgrounds including Hispanic, Oriental, and African American. More importantly, many have been born and raised in New Mexico and with just a few exceptions they all reside in New Mexico. Under the direction of John Farrer, recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence and Achievement and nominated by Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman as a Trustee of the National Symphony Orchestra, the Subscription Concert series is made up of 5 concerts performed October through April. Subscription Concerts are held at New Mexico Military Institute's Pearson Auditorium. These Subscription Concerts bring classical orchestral music, performed by New Mexico's best professional musicians, to the area. Music written by Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Mozart, Strauss, Wagner and the like are performed, often with internationally known guest artists ranging from Violinists to Classical Guitarists. In addition, the season will feature a multi-cultural 3 concert RSO Chamber Music Series at the Roswell Museum and Art Center. RSO chamber concerts are scheduled to coincide with museum exhibit openings, adding to the cultural and artistic diversity of the offering. The Chamber Concerts offer music that is, generally, out of the "mainstream", utilizing musical groups ranging from a wind quintet to an African Drum and flute group.

The concert season always opens with the free Labor Day "Pops" Concert in the park. Held at the Spring River Park and Zoo, this concert is given to the community by the Roswell Symphony Orchestra as a thank you for the wonderful support given throughout the year. In addition to this annual concert, the education committee of the RSO along with the N.O.T.E. Councils at Goddard and Roswell High School put on an "instrument petting zoo". This petting zoo is held in the afternoon prior to the Concert and allows young and older children alike to come and talk with some of the orchestra musicians about their instruments and even play them. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to become interested and involved in music.

Within these concerts for the 2005-2006 concert season, the Roswell Symphony Orchestra will continue to emphasize the educational service to the community that it has successfully provided and expanded in recent years. The Roswell Symphony Orchestra strives to provide the students of Southeastern New Mexico with an opportunity to hear and enjoy the RSO and some of the great classical work by composers throughout the world. The 3rd, 4th & 5th grade "Children Concerts" and pre concert classroom introduction is, for many, the beginning of a life-long love of music, instruments and the arts. Our "Shadow Orchestra" program allows the best musicians from high schools around the area to perform with a professional orchestra and be mentored by some of New Mexico and Texas' finest musicians. Our educational materials library, open to all area teachers provides on-going support to the educational community. Our desire to make available at a reduced price, to each and every student symphonic music at its finest, is at the heart of the "Student Rush" program, implemented for the first time in the 2004-2005 concert year, where any student may purchase a ticket to attend the symphony concerts for just $5.00 15 minutes before the concert begins. 16 free Tickets to each Subscription Concert are also distributed to the Band and Orchestra Directors of Roswell, Dexter and Hagerman high schools and middle schools as an incentive/reward to their students.

Irregardless of culture, heritage or upbringing, one thing is certain in this part of New Mexico. Often, those cultural events which are the domain of larger cities are, by rote, neglected in the smaller more rural communities of Southeastern New Mexico. It is for this reason that the Roswell Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors is so committed to providing Roswell, Hagerman, Dexter, Artesia, Ruidoso, Alamagordo and other areas of SE New Mexico a large number of projects in order to make sure that anyone who wants to enjoy the musical arts is given every opportunity. This is the mission of the RSO in action.

With approximately 50% of the population being Hispanic & 10% African American or Oriental, close to 10,000 patrons will experience live symphonic music and cultural chamber music through the Roswell Symphony Orchestra's Subscription Concert series, the Chamber series, the Free Labor Day Pops Concert and RSO's educational-outreach children's programs. Concertgoers regularly come from Roswell, Alamagordo, Artesia, Carlsbad, Ruidoso and the rural areas of Southeastern New Mexico. Without the RSO, there would be no other venue for this type of experience in these areas. The "Send a Senior" program in which merchants sponsor season tickets, and the RSO Board of Directors match, are given away to seniors on a first come, first serve basis. These seniors might not otherwise be able to attend the concert. This program grows each year as our seniors population grows. In all, approximately 160 tickets per concert are available to be given away for each concert. More than 900 seniors attend free each year. This year, the Roswell J.O.Y. Center has collaborated with the RSO to provide transportation to seniors who may not be able to drive or are simply more comfortable with someone else doing the driving. This service is available to any senior over the age of 60, regardless of physical ability, disability or ability to pay. Wheelchair access is available at all concerts. The addition of the "Student Rush" program is an attempt to allow low income students seriously discounted admission.

More than 40 high school students participate in "The Shadow Orchestra Project". The students, chosen by Orchestra and Band Directors is not only in Roswell, but also Alamagordo, Hagerman and Dexter and Artesia. These students sit in and play alongside each first and second chair of each section of the RSO during rehearsals and then perform with the orchestra at the 4th grade Children's Concert, scheduled each year. Giving the professional musicians a chance to share techniques and mentor the aspiring musicians next to them. This program gives the students a rich and rewarding musical experience, along with providing invaluable "musical mentors".

In addition to the Shadow Orchestra Project, The Roswell Symphony offers Children's Concerts each year for the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students in both private and public elementary schools in Roswell, Dexter and Hagerman. These projects, which the Roswell Symphony Guild plays a vital role, in make the experience much more than simply a concert. The 3rd grade students are treated to age appropriate, tailor made performances by the Chamber Concert groups. Such concerts in the past have included a musical instrument version of "Peter and the Wolf" by Mariah Winds, and the "Non-Toxic Band" by Mood Indigo who did a Sesame Street themed version of their music genre. The volunteers from the Guild, and the RSO Board of Directors travel to each 4th grade class and present a video and handouts that outline each of the instrument families and what they will see when they go to an orchestra concert. The Symphony Guild then puts together a teacher's packet and 10 minute audio tape of each piece that the children will hear in the concert. The 5th grade students see a slightly more sophisticated concert by chamber groups, many of whom utilize everyday household items to use as drums, or bring in such non-traditional instruments as the mandola, Irish bouzouki, bodhran or villean. Over 900 students attend each concert

Our innovative Music Education Resource Lending Library housed at the RSO office continues to grow. This multi-media library, originally funded through a generous grant by the then New Mexico Arts Division, enjoys a steady balance of and increased activity by public-school teachers throughout the year. Our "Partners in Education" program with 15 area elementary schools is ongoing.