Brazosport Symphony Orchestra

Immerse yourself in live orchestral music with the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra!

Experience classical favorites, pop arrangements and world premieres LIVE…the way they were intended to be heard.
Join one of the fastest-growing audiences of classical music lovers.
Celebrate the world of music in a world-class venue with amazing sound.
Introduce the whole family to symphonic music affordably, without worrying about parking or big city traffic.

BSO 2023/2024 Season

Concertmaster's Choice

Saturday, October 7, 2023 – 7:30 PM

The Clarion at Brazosport College

Selections include:

Daugherty – Red Cape Tango
Grieg – Lyric Suite
Mozart – Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Rossini – William Tell Overture

(Photo of BSO Concertmaster Darren Tidwell by Gerald Roznovsky)

Robin Spielberg's "By Way of the Wind"

Sunday, November 12, 2023 – 4:00 PM

The Clarion at Brazosport College

Guest soloist Robin Spielberg joins BSO for the symphony premiere of By Way of the Wind! A pianist, composer and recording artist, Robin is well known for her expressive technique, melodic composition style and engaging live performances. Her orchestrated works reflect the universal human experience of moving through the world, recounting stories of courage and resilience.

Vivaldi's "Gloria"
Featuring Brazosport College Choir

Saturday, December 16, 2023 – 7:30 PM

The Clarion at Brazosport College

Selections include:

Vivaldi – Gloria
Tchaikovsky –The Nutcracker Suite

A Celebration of American Black Composers

Saturday, February 17, 2024 – 7:30 PM

The Clarion at Brazosport College

Selections include:

Florence Price – Symphony No. 1 in E Minor
William Grant Still – Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major “Afro-American”
Music of Scott Joplin and Duke Ellington

Legends

Saturday, April 6, 2024 – 7:30 PM

The Clarion at Brazosport College

This concert will feature the 2024 winners of the Whit Phillips Memorial Young Artist Competition and Student Melody Challenge winners.

Selections will include:

Kondo – The Legend of Zelda
Gliere – Russian Sailor’s Dance
Rossini – William Tell Overture
Weber – Oberon Overture
Purcell – King Arthur

May the 4th!

Saturday, May 4, 2024 – 7:30 PM

The Clarion at Brazosport College

Selections will include:

Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 4
Music of Star Wars

Our Programs

Events Calendar

About Brazosport Symphony Orchestra

Brazosport Symphony Orchestra is a world-class symphony orchestra based in southern Brazoria County. Under the direction of Brian Casey, the orchestra presents a full season of classical and pops concerts in The Clarion Music Performance Hall at Brazosport College. Brazosport Symphony Orchestra is registered as a 501(c)(3) not for profit charitable and educational organization with the Internal Revenue Services. Donations to Brazosport Symphony Orchestra are tax-deductible.

Volunteer with Brazosport Symphony Orchestra

How can I become a musician with Brazosport Symphony Orchestra?
Please contact Brian Casey at iplaydbass@hotmail.com or Paula Matzke at izzie2865@gmail.com.

What if I don’t play an instrument?
We have other opportunities for you to be involved with the Symphony. Brazosport Symphony League is an active organization that helps support the Symphony and its players. For more information, contact Neldia Alhquist at neldia@neldalinsurance.com.

Membership

Full Circle Sampler

Membership Benefits (beginning September 2023)

Enjoy an exciting season at The Center (and beyond) with memberships to each Partner Group with this “sampler” package!

Brazosport Fine Arts Council membership (voting level membership) + $50 donation to Center Operations
Brazosport Art League Single Artist membership (valid through Sept. 30, 2024)
5 adult Flex Tickets to Brazosport Center Stages* (to be used in any combination to 2023/2024 regular season shows)
Brazosport Museum of Natural Science Individual membership (valid Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024)
BASF Planetarium individual membership
4 adult Flex Tickets to Brazosport Symphony Orchestra* (to be used in any combination to 2023/2024 regular season concerts)

*Reservations required to redeem BCS & BSO Flex Tickets

Full Circle Membership

Brazosport Symphony Orchestra

Membership Benefits (beginning September 2023)

Adult Season Ticket Package (6 tickets total) – $180 each.
Student Season Ticket Package (6 tickets total) – $96 each.

Season ticket holders/members have the following three options:

Choose the same seats as the 2022-2023 season.
Select new seats.
Switch from season tickets to Flex tickets.

Seat selection available through September 1.

If you select Flex Tickets, you MUST reserve your seats prior each concert. Reservations may be made online, in person or by calling (979) 265-7661 during The Center’s regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM).

Please allow two business days for processing.

BSO Membership

History of Brazosport Symphony Orchestra

In 1981, Dr. Samuel Jones, Director of Rice University’s newly formed Shepherd School of Music, contacted Jeralyn Friedli, a former player living in Lake Jackson. Dr. Jones said he had a promising conducting student named Jim Hagberg who wished to become the conductor of a community orchestra after graduation.

In the Spring of 1982, Clayton Gilpin, President of the Brazosport Music Theater, (which later merged with the Little Theater of Brazosport to become Brazosport Center Stages), called Jeralyn to determine the possibility of starting an orchestra under the sponsorship of the Music Theater. Jim Hagberg was invited to attend a meeting with Gilpin, Friedli and Margaret Davis, a local musician with two children who played the violin. Hagberg was graduating from Rice University with a Masters in conducting in May 1982.

Since Hagberg was not available until the summer of 1982, Davis gathered a small group of students and community people to form a string ensemble under the direction of Bill Atkerson, a former high school orchestra director. An August concert was held at the Music Theater and was very well received. In the fall of 1982 that small string group became the nucleus for the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jim Hagberg. Hagberg was hired by the Brazosport Music Theater to conduct one rehearsal per week and three concerts for the 1982-83 season. A sum of $600 was collected from the community and added to the Music Theater treasury, from which Hagberg was paid $50 per month.

In the summer of 1983 Friedli and Linda Claiborne, another mother of a violinist, worked to organize a Symphony Board of Directors and Symphony League. These groups were to operate and maintain the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra. A charter was received from the State of Texas in 1983 and Federal non-profit status was received in 1984. The Board of Directors started with nine members, but has increased over time to 27 members. The board is organized into working committees that function well and keep the orchestra operating within budget.

Since 1984, the Symphony has continued to grow in its quantity of players, audience and budget. The quality of its performances has improved greatly and additional concerts have been added. The Symphony and its League continue in their relationship to The Center, as affiliate organizations of Brazosport Center Stages. In 2006, Brazosport Symphony Orchestra moved its rehearsals and concerts to the newly opened The Clarion Music Performance Hall at Brazosport College. Many exceptional soloists have performed with the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra, both from within the community and outside professionals.

In 2006 the Symphony revitalized its Young Artists Competition for string players. The winner received a $500 scholarship and the opportunity to play with the orchestra. In 2017, the competition was renamed the Whit Phillips Memorial Young Artists Competition, in memory of locally trained music student and performer, Whit Phillips. More information about this competition can be found in the Education section of this page.

Conductors:

James G. Hagberg (co-founder): 1982 – 2003

Dr. John Ricarte: 2003 – 2018

Brian Casey: 2018 – present

Brazosport Symphony Orchestra Affiliations

Brazosport Symphony League

Brazosport Symphony League is a dues-paying organization that supports the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra and music education in the community. Prior to each Symphony concert, BSL members meet to learn about the music for that concert. During the concert, League members can be seen helping audience members find their seats and answering questions at The Clarion as ushers. They are also a welcome sight during intermission behind the refreshment counter. To become a member, print and complete the form found at this link and mail to:

Brazosport Symphony League

400 College Blvd

Clute, TX 77531

The Clarion at Brazosport College

The Clarion at Brazosport College is a magnificent 600-seat performance hall designed to meet the highest acoustical standards for today’s live music performances. The beautiful ambience of The Clarion features a stunning, two-story lobby graced with a specially commissioned bronze sculpture entitled “Spirit of Music,” as well as rehearsal halls for vocal and instrumental music, individual practice rooms, faculty offices, classrooms, and green room. The Clarion encompass approximately 29,000 square feet of custom-designed space, providing an exciting venue for the performance, appreciation, and learning opportunities of music.

“Clarion” denotes a medieval trumpet with a clear, ringing tone; the clarion call is a bright fanfare from the trumpet, an instrument that plays a vital part in all types of music. The “Spirit of Music” bronze sculpture in The Clarion lobby will be an impressive angelic figure with clarion aloft, calling all to the appreciation of music. The word clarion comes to our language through Middle English and Old French from the Latin clarus, meaning clear.

More information about The Clarion and its season can be found by going to the following website: https://brazosport.edu/business-community/clarion/

Education

The Whit Phillips Memorial Young Artist Competition

2023-2024 Season:

$1,000 prize to the Young Artist of the Year
$500 prize for the Senior & Junior division winners
$100 for each division category winner

Open to Brazoria County music students grades K-12. Auditions on string, brass, wind, percussion, piano or voice.

Application deadline: Friday, January 12, 2024

Auditions: Sunday, January 28, 2024

The Clarion Choir Room at Brazosport College

Winners may be invited to perform with BSO on April 6, 2024

For additional information contact your Orchestra, Band, or Choir Director, or private lesson music teacher.

Brazosport Symphony Orchestra Special Events

Brazosport Symphony Orchestra Leadership
Conductor & Music Director	Brian Casey
Concert Master	Darren Tidwell
President	Neldia Ahlquist
President-elect	Mingo Marquez
Recording Secretary	Narlene Plank
Corresponding Secretary	Linda Bartholome
Treasurer	Howard Phillips
Vice President	Linda Crummel
Council Member	Neldia Ahlquist
Council Member	Ron Bachman
Council Member	Michael Baker
Council Member	Linda Bartholome
Council Member	Linda Crummel
Council Member	Rachel Cloeter
Council Member	Beth Dauer
Council Member	Mario Martinez
Council Member	Mingo Marquez
Council Member	Ken Marshall
Council Member	Betty Phillips
Council Member	Wanda Buckner
Council Member	Narlene Plank
Council Member	Sarah Parsons
Council Member	Marsha Albert
Council Member	Dr. Jonathan Grady
Council Member	Brianna Mitchell
Council Member	Ed Steinert
Council Member	Carole Krebsbach
Council Member	Erica Steiner
Council Member	Susan Buell

Brazosport Symphony Orchestra

Immerse yourself in live orchestral music with the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra!

BSO 2023/2024 Season

Concertmaster's Choice

Robin Spielberg's "By Way of the Wind"

Vivaldi's "Gloria" Featuring Brazosport College Choir

A Celebration of American Black Composers

Legends

May the 4th!

Our Programs

Events Calendar

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Vivaldi's "Gloria"
Featuring Brazosport College Choir