Orchestral music in South Bend began 14 years before the inception of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. Frederic Ingersoll, a violinist from Cleveland, Ohio, came to South Bend in 1894, after four years of study in Berlin and Switzerland. He envisioned bringing aspects of the musical life he had experienced in Europe to American cities. Ingersoll taught violin students privately in South Bend until 1906, when Milton B. Griffith established the South Bend Conservatory and hired him as faculty. By 1918, Ingersoll had been promoted to the position of director of the conservatory and utilized his pupils, as well as local musicians, to form the first professional symphony in South Bend. This symphony provided invaluable musical life to the people of South Bend and gifted local musicians an opportunity to perform. Unfortunately, in 1932, the pressures of the Great Depression forced Ingersoll’s orchestra to fold.

1932

That same year, Australian violinist Edwyn H. Hames formed the South Bend Symphony Orchestra as a performing ensemble of his string students assisted by professional musicians. Making do with the limitations of the Depression economy, these first musicians were all volunteers who paid dues of 25 cents per week in order to afford music rentals, and they were responsible for selling tickets to every concert. The initial group consisted of 44 members, but rapid growth was on the horizon. By 1933, the orchestra had begun establishing itself in the community, with George Mauer of the South Bend Tribune remarking that “if the quality of the performance and the size and enthusiasm of the audience are criteria then the organization will be a permanent one.”

Edwyn H. Hames

In 1935, Ella Morris took the helm as president of the Symphony and began transforming the group from its humble volunteer roots into the fully professional organization it was to become. Ella Morris organized a Women’s Committee with hundreds of volunteers to sell tickets and host events, marking a significant transition to a self-sustaining organization. A Men’s Committee, under the guidance of Ms. Morris, worked to bring in donations. Her leadership was essential for the growth of the organization into a fully professional ensemble.

Ella Morris

By the 1940s, the membership of the Symphony exceeded 80 musicians and world-famous guest artists began performing with the group, including Arthur Rubenstein and Percy Grainger. In its first decade, the Symphony had relied on musicians from Chicago to supplement its ranks, but as time went on efforts were made to cultivate orchestra members from the local community. By the 1950s, most of the symphony consisted of local musicians. Only two-thirds of the members were professional musicians, with a significant number working full-time in local factories and companies, such as Studebaker. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, the Symphony grew and performed with increasingly renowned guest artists, such as Van Cliburn and Glenn Gould.

Kenneth Kiesler

In 1972, Edwyn Hames conducted his final concert with the Symphony, completing a tenure of 40 years as music director. At the time, Hames had one of the longest tenures of any American conductor.  A period of transition followed, with a series of guest conductors leading the Symphony in the early 1970s. Seymour Rubenstein conducted one complete season, followed by Herbert Butler, who remained in the position until his untimely death in 1982. Rubenstein and Butler’s era saw immense growth in the organization. In 1980, the Midwest Pops merged with the Symphony, and Newton Wayland conducted the Pops concerts until 1991. Wayland’s Pops concerts were known for being exceptionally engaging for audiences and musicians alike.

Kenneth Kiesler became music director in 1985 and a gift from Dr. Corey B. McFarland allowed the orchestra to increase salaries and establish a core of players, raising the artistic level of the Symphony. A series of chamber orchestra concerts with these core musicians began, continuing today as the June H. Edwards Mosaic Series.

Maestro Tsung Yeh was appointed music director in 1988, beginning a 28-year tenure that would further expand and refine the reach of the Symphony. Notably, Yeh was the first conductor to ever serve as a music director to both a western symphony and a Chinese symphony simultaneously. His legacy is one of greatly expanded concert offerings and a strong endowment campaign that has ensured the continuing legacy of the Symphony.

Orchestra under Tsung Yeh, 1990

After Yeh’s retirement in 2016, Alastair Willis was named music director and he continues to serve in this position today. His charismatic and theatrical music making leads the Symphony in exciting performances that establish the South Bend Symphony Orchestra as one of the finest orchestras in the Midwest.

Music Director Alastair Willis

The South Bend Symphony Orchestra has been host to legendary musicians such as Percy Grainger, Van Cliburn, Arthur Rubenstein, Glenn Gould, Michael Rabin, Leontyne Price, Marian Anderson, Yuja Wang, Hilary Hahn, and Yo-Yo Ma, who made his return to our stage in May 2023. The Symphony today performs three separate concert series, in addition to 50 free chamber music performances in the community and brings live symphonic music to over 10,000 students annually.

Alastair Willis

Music Director

Grammy nominated conductor ALASTAIR WILLIS is the Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of The Symphonia Boca Raton. In past seasons, Willis has guest conducted orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfonica de Rio de Janeiro, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra Berlin, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, China National Orchestra (Beijing), and Silk Road Ensemble (with Yo-Yo Ma) among others. His recording of Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortileges” with Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009.

Last season Willis was re-engaged by the Qatar Philharmonic, Salute to Vienna, and made his debut with Vienna’s Imperial Philharmonic. This season he returns to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Qatar Philharmonic, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Seattle’s Music of Remembrance, Illinois Symphony and Salute to Vienna.

Previous positions include Music Director of the Illinois Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor with the Florida Orchestra’s Coffee Concert series, Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, Assistant Conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Born in Acton, Massachusetts, Willis lived with his family in Moscow for five years before settling in Surrey, England. He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from England’s Bristol University, an Education degree from Kingston University, and a Masters of Music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Willis currently resides in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and daughter.

 

For more information about Alastair Willis, visit alastairwillis.com.

Shanghai-born conductor Tsung Yeh served as the Music Director of the South Bend Symphony for 28 years. Maestro Yeh earned the distinction of being the first conductor ever to hold music directorships of both a western symphony orchestra and a Chinese instrument orchestra. As recognition of his 28 years of service, on June 17, 2016, Tsung Yeh received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Indiana Governor, Michael Pence.

Frequently performing to sold-out audiences in Singapore, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra marked its first tour of Europe in 2005, traveling to the Barbican Centre in London, The Sage Gateshead in Newcastle, England, and the Budapest Spring Festival. In 2013, in recognition of his contributions to the nation’s heritage and cultural climate, the Government of Singapore awarded Mr. Yeh with the Cultural Medallion, its highest honor for work in the Arts.

Mr. Yeh holds degrees from the Mannes College of Music and was one of three conductors chosen for the Conductor Mentor Program of the American Symphony Orchestra League, working with Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez. He has previously held posts as Exxon/Arts Endowment Conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Resident Conductor of The Florida Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Maestro Yeh has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, The Minnesota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, China National Symphony Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Calgary Philharmonic. He has recorded for the Hugo, Delos, and Naxos record labels with several orchestras.

Violin I

Jameson Cooper

Jameson Cooper

Concertmaster, Barbara K. Warner Chair 

Mark Portolese

Mark Portolese

Associate Concertmaster, Dr. Daniel & Pamela Chipman Chair

Azusa Tashiro

Azusa Tashiro

Assistant Concertmaster

Jessica Bennett

Jessica Bennett

Candace Thomas

Louisa Blood

Michelle Wynton

Michelle Wynton

Jae Sung Lee

Jae Sung Lee

Janis Sakai

Timothy Cuffman

Anna Carlson

Anna Carlson

Violin II

Aviva Hakanoglu

Aviva Hakanoglu

Principal, Irene M. Siberell Chair

Rachel Brown

Rachel Brown

Associate Principal, Wells Fargo Bank Chair

Tamara Stojanovic

Tamara Stojanovic

Matthew Musachio

Matthew Musachio

Clara Woolley

Clara Woolley

Barb Arnold

Barb Arnold

Deborah Barker

Deborah Barker

Vladimir Gebe

Vladimir Gebe

Viola

Nicholas Jeffery

Nicholas Jeffery

Principal, Irene M. Siberell Chair

Maria Ritzenthaler

Maria Ritzenthaler

Associate Principal, Barnes and Thornburg, LLP Chair

Rachel Goff

Rachel Goff

Katherine Deneris

Katherine Deneris

David Beytas

David Beytas

Matthew Barwegen

Matthew Barwegen

Cello

Lara Turner

Lara Turner

Principal, Dorothy and Herbert A. Schiller, M.D. Chair

Brook Bennett

Brook Bennett

Associate Principal, Peg and Robert O. Laven Chair

David Machavariani

David Machavariani

South Bend Symphony Orchestra League Chair

Allison Chambers

Allison Chambers

Denise Kuehner

Denise Kuehner

Justin Goldsmith

Justin Goldsmith

Lily Gruman

Lily Gruman

Bass

Edward W. Randles

Edward W. Randles

Principal, Leo J. McKernan Chair

Victor Döme

Victor Döme

Associate Principal

Diana Ford

Diana Ford

Weldon Anderson

Weldon Anderson

Jason Niehoff

Jason Niehoff

Andrew French

Andrew French

Flute

Leslie Short

Leslie Short

Principal, Christopher H. Wilson Chair

Eliza Bangert

Eliza Bangert

Second Flute, Jane and E. Blair Warner Chair

Scott Metlicka

Scott Metlicka

Masterworks, Pricewaterhousecoopers, LLP Chair

Piccolo

Scott Metlicka

Scott Metlicka

Masterworks, Pricewaterhousecoopers, LLP Chair

Clarinet

Trevor O'Riordan

Trevor O’Riordan

Principal

Sergey Gutorov

Sergey Gutorov

Dr. and Mrs. James M. Wilson Chair

William Olsen

William Olsen

Sharon and Vincent Scuzzo, M.D. Chair

E♭ Clarinet

Sergey Gutorov

Sergey Gutorov

Dr. and Mrs. James M. Wilson Chair

Bass Clarinet

William Olsen

William Olsen

Sharon and Vincent Scuzzo, M.D. Chair

Bassoon

Jill Dispenza

Jill Dispenza

Principal

Jason E. Kramer

Jason E. Kramer

Oboe

Jennet Ingle

Jennet Ingle

Principal, Cushwa Family Chair

Lindsay Wiley

Lindsay Wiley

Second Oboe, Stanz Foodservice, Inc. Chair

Beverly Butts Guthrie

Beverly Butts Guthrie

English Horn

Lindsay Wiley

Lindsay Wiley

Second Oboe, Stanz Foodservice, Inc. Chair

Horn

Kurt Civilette

Kurt Civilette

Principal

Jeremiah Frederick

Jeremiah Frederick

Associate Principal, Shirley and Joseph Hennessy Chair

Anna Mayne

Anna Mayne

Brian Goodwin

Brian Goodwin

Assistant Horn

Parker Nelson

Parker Nelson

Trumpet

Stephen Orejudos

Stephen Orejudos

Principal, Linda and Bruce Bancroft Chair

David Nakazono

David Nakazono

Jane Anderson

Jane Anderson

Trombone

David Roode

David Roode

Principal, Masterworks - Mossberg and Company, Inc. Chair, Pops - The Martin Foundation Chair

Jaewoo Lee

Jaewoo Lee

Bass Trombone

Helene Dauerty

Helene Dauerty

Tuba

Yukitada Onitsuka

Yukitada Onitsuka

Principal, The Thompson Family Fund Chair

Harp

Renee Wilson

Renee Wilson

Principal, Barbara J. Shields Byrum Chair

Piano

open

open

Pops - Wanda Haines Chair

Timpani

Simon Gomez Gallego

Simon Gomez Gallego

Board Officers

  • President – Marvin V. Curtis, EdD
  • Vice President – Susan Ohmer, PhD
  • Treasurer – Breighan Boeskool, PhD
  • Secretary – Mark Ross, PhD

Members

  • Bruce BonDurant
  • Sarah Brown
  • Jack M. Champaigne *
  • Robert Coleman, PhD
  • Kyle Everett *
  • Kim Farabaugh
  • John Finlay
  • Rachel Goff
  • Cindy Gretschmann
  • Joan Joshi
  • Jennifer Kary, CPA
  • Donna Lamberti, CPA*
  • Cordell Martin
  • Cheron Merten, CTFA
  • Cristyne Porile
  • James Sawdon, CFP, CPA
  • Cari Shein *+
  • Bianca Tirado
  • Larry Thompson, MD *

* Past President
+ Director Emeritus

Justus Zimmerman

Justus Zimmerman

Executive Director

Jade Smith

Jade Smith

Office Manager/Executive Assistant

Halle McGuire Hobbins

Halle McGuire Hobbins

Director of Development

Jasmine Jackson

Jasmine Jackson

Development Associate

Sarah Perschbacher

Sarah Perschbacher

Director of Marketing

Rick Ellis

Rick Ellis

Patron Services Coordinator

Bianca Jimenez

Bianca Jimenez

Marketing Associate

Philip Bauman

Philip Bauman

Production Manager

Starnes Dees

Starnes Dees

Artistic Coordinator

Colby Fahrenbacher

Colby Fahrenbacher

Librarian

Steve Gergacz

Steve Gergacz

Patron Concierge

Sarah Zakowski

Sarah Zakowski

Education & Community Engagement Coordinator