New Civic Orchestra of Abilene Formed by Three Universities

(Abilene, Texas) Hardin-Simmons University has recently joined with McMurry and Abilene Christian University to form a new civic orchestra.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our students and a grand collaboration of all three universities,” said Dr. Robert Tucker, Dean of the College of Fine Arts.

The three colleges recently formed the Civic Orchestra of Abilene through a Memorandum of Understanding. The new ensemble will be comprised of students from all three universities, as well as community members, and will conducted by Dr. Steven Ward.

A similar collegiate orchestra had been successful in Abilene in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. A new component of this orchestra is the added element of community members participating.

The opportunity arose this year following the announcement by HSU that its orchestra program would be discontinued in 2017.

“After announcing the loss of our two full-time string positions, McMurry, Abilene Christian, and Hardin-Simmons met to see about the possibility of serving the musical needs of the students and the community of Abilene,” said Tucker.

The fundraising campaign to fully endow the HSU orchestra and its two full-time string teaching positions will continue. Learn more about this effort at: https://connect.hsutx.edu/fundhsu.

Rehearsals for the Civic Orchestra of Abilene will be on Tuesday afternoons for string players and the full orchestra will meet on Thursday evenings. The first performance will be Thursday, November 3rd at 7:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium on the ACU Campus.

Tucker said the new civic orchestra will enrich participating HSU students, as well as the Big Country region.

“We sincerely appreciate the vision of those who love orchestral music and the desire to provide this valuable experience for music students as well as the community of Abilene,” said Tucker.

Please visit the website for more information: http://www.civicorchabilene.org.