About Us

OUR HISTORY:

Mission:

For over 49 years, the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra has brought accomplished musicians together with a mission to bring high quality orchestral  music to underserved communities in the Albuquerque area, at no expense to our audience.   The Albuquerque Philharmonic is for people of all ages and socioeconomic statuses.  We are committed to working with students, not only with the Art and Music concerts, but also with trios, string quartets, and wind quintets performing at local schools. We welcome you to our concerts.

The “Art and Music Concerts” are focused on stimulating student creativity and imagination. The artwork is inspired by actively listening to the music.  Emotions, images and more are stimulated when people listen intently to music, and we ask the students to put their feelings into artwork.   The students  create artwork from a variety of mediums, including acrylics, pastels, oils, photography, pottery, and more. At the March concerts, the artwork is projected overhead during the concert, and is also on display in the lobby at both venues.
The Art and Music concerts began in 2011 and take place annually in March.  The first Art and Music concert started with Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” which was composed in response to the artwork of Mussorgsky's  close friend, Victor Hartmann, at Hartmann’s memorial service.   Here, the students are doing the opposite, they are creating artwork based on the music.  

Students have participated from both public and Private Schools.

     Albuquerque Public Schools:

          - Albuquerque High School

          - Chaparral Elementary

          - Longfellow Elementary

          - Los Ranchos Elementary

          - Del Norte High School

          - Manzano High School

          - Sunset View Elementary

          - S.Y. Jackson Elementary

     Rio Rancho Public Schools:

          - Ernest Stapleton Elementary

          - Cielo Azul Elementary

          - Colinas Del Norte Elementary

          - Lincoln Middle School

          - Martin Luther King Jr Elementary

          - Sandia Vista Elementary

          - V. Sue Cleveland High School 

 Independent or Private Schools:

          - Albuquerque Academy

          - The Bosque School

          - Explore Academy

Past history of the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra: The orchestra was formed by cellist Jo Kaestner in September 1972, at the suggestion of Bob Wolfe, and given the name “Albuquerque Lesser Symphony Orchestra.”  The acronym “ALSO” was fitting for the fledgling community orchestra to separate if from the professional orchestra, the Albuquerque (Greater) Symphony Orchestra (which became NMSO, and is currently the NM Philharmonic Orchestra). Jo admits the name, Albuquerque Lesser Symphony Orchestra, was facetious, so in September 1977 the name was changed to the Albuquerque Philharmonia Orchestra.  In 1989, the name changed to the current Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra, during the tenure of music director Willy Sucre. 

           “An Amateur” says Jo Kaestner, “is one who cultivates a particular pursuit without pursing it professionally, one having a marked fondness for something.”  The word comes from the Latin word, “to love.”  

         Our first conductor, John Gaston, was a violinist in the professional group, The (Greater) Albuquerque Symphony Orchestra which, as stated above, morphed into the NMSO, and currently is the NM Philharmonic.  John was also choir director for Trinity Methodist Church at that time.  Rehearsals were Mondays at 7:30 PM at the Albuquerque HS.  To this day we still have Monday night rehearsals, 4 pairs of concerts, plus the annual chamber concert.  

          The conductors of the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra are:

• John Gaston conductor and music director from 1975 till Aug 76
• Willy Sucre, Conductor and music director, Sept 76-June 78
• Joel Rosenberg was asked by Willy Sucre to succeed him, and he conducted only one month.
• Daniel Birns Nov 79
• Dale Kempter Nov, Dec 79 Sept 79, March 1980, 
• Kay Shafer, 1980, 81
• Willy Sucre Nov 81
• Elaine Rafferty and Bill Swift shared the responsibility of Assistant Conductor in April 1982.  
• David Oberg, guest conductor during Willy’s absence starting in Jan 1983.
• Willy Sucre returns in November 1985
• Elliott Higgins
• Bill Swift
• Joel Gelpe served as music director of APO for the seven years before David Felberg took over.  Joel has an impressive history,  To learn more about him, click here. 
• David Felberg conducted APO as early as 1996, and became official Music Director from 2003 - 2018.  David led the orchestra and significantly improved the quality and musicianship of the group during his 15 year tenure.
• Byron Herrington September 2018 - present

The Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra is supported in part by the New Mexico Arts, Art Works, and the Albuquerque Community Foundation.