A.S.O. Beginnings

Photo by Robert Sullivan

The Alpena Symphony Orchestra (AS) was launched in the spring of 2004 and held its inaugural concert on June 25 of that year.  The formation of the orchestra was the dream of Dr. Diane Float, who had spurred an interest in string playing with the creation of the Alpena Suzuki Talent Education Program and the formation of the Alpena Orchestra Academy.  Dr. Float is a retired Florida music teacher of thirty-six years whose love of music could not be contained in retirement, and so, in 2003, she began teaching string classes to students of all ages in Alpena and the surrounding area.  The overwhelming response to these classes and to the Alpena Orchestra Academy encouraged Dr. Float to form a symphony orchestra for more accomplished musicians.  She planned that the Suzuki string student would progress to the Alpena Orchestra Academy and then become, over time, proficient enough to play in the Alpena Symphony Orchestra.  Dr. Float believed that the symphony would provide the student with the ultimate experience of performing “music of the masters.”   

Area music educator and conductor, Raymond R. Reynolds, was instrumental in recruiting personnel for the new ASO.  Ray and Diane contacted both former members of the previous Alpena Civic Orchestra and members of current music organizations, inviting them to play in the newly organized Alpena Symphony Orchestra.  This new orchestra, comprised of nearly 50 area musicians, held its first concert on June 25, 2004 under the direction of Dr. Float.  This first concert brought a “standing room only” crowd of 250 people to the Alpena Civic Center.  It had been nearly 20 years since the last concert of the original Alpena Civic Orchestra and so a new era involving string music had been born in Alpena.

The ASO season runs from May – December, with three full orchestral concerts and two small ensemble concerts given each season.  Concerts are conducted by Artistic Committee members Raymond R. Reynolds, John Schubert and Brian Carter.

The purpose of the ASO is to offer musicians the opportunity to learn orchestral repertoire, to present concerts for the public performance of music and to provide education relative to classical music.  Concerts are free of charge although the generous donations of private citizens and businesses, plus some grant funding, support the symphony financially.  Besides performers hired to fill out sections there are no paid personnel.  All funding is used for the purchase of music, instruments, rehearsal space and fees for concert venues.  The ASO is incorporated as a Michigan non-profit corporation and has received non-profit status under IRS section 501 (c)(3).