Every symphony begins with a single note, and behind every note is an idea transformed to new musical heights through a delicate conversation between composer, conductor, and performers. From the concert halls of Europe to South Texas classrooms, harmonious collaboration allows musical legacies to continue across generations and borders.
This rings especially true when exploring the role of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) in maintaining the city’s rich musical history. Founded in 1980, the Laredo Philharmonic offers a distinct musical experience for the community through its partnership with renowned musicians, local school districts, colleges, and its patrons.
Considered a mainstay in Laredo’s broader music scene, the LPO traces its roots to the Laredo Civic Music Association (CMA), which operated from 1936 to 1978. Led by Genevieve Richter, the CMA brought world-class musicians and performances to the Martin High School auditorium. Shortly after its final season, its supporters sought to create a symphony orchestra for Laredo.
Founding member Dr. Ray Keck recalled a meeting at the home of Lawrence and Patricia Mann, where he was introduced to conductor Terence Frazor. The first matter to be addressed was the shortage of resident musicians in Laredo needed to form an orchestra.
Frazor countered that concern with a proposal: he would commit to the project on the condition that they pushed for securing a strings program in Laredo schools.
“Those of us listening to Frazor…hadn’t thought of that combination: an orchestra and a strings program to begin training a new generation of Laredoans,” Keck said.
Thereafter, the founding group expanded to include Richter, Julia Watson Jones, Hortense Offerle, E.H. Corrigan, and Sue Killam. They were tasked with securing fiscal support from banks for the orchestra’s first concert and persuading school districts to invest in a strings program for students. Vidal M. Treviño, then-superintendent of Laredo Independent School District, agreed immediately to the program and the inclusion of the strings faculty as members of the orchestra; his namesake magnet school followed suit upon being founded in 1993.
With the generous financial backing from seven founding members, the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra was launched, with Keck serving as board chairman and Frazor as musical director (commonly referred to as maestro).
The inaugural 1980-1981 season proved fruitful, attracting additional board members and sponsors such as the International Bank of Commerce, Elmo López Music Company, Evan and Mary L. Quiros, and Richter’s Department Store.
Frazor served as maestro for 22 years, witnessing the growth and impact of the orchestra across Laredo, Nuevo Laredo, and their surrounding communities. With the addition of the Laredo Philharmonic Chorale (also led by Frazor) the organization was later rebranded as the Laredo Philharmonic.
Frazor reflected on the Philharmonic’s ongoing impact for its performers and audiences.
“The LPO brought a culture of classical music to Laredo, which the city had never before experienced. Because of the LPO and the school string programs, Laredo has produced a number of excellent young professional musicians,” Frazor said.
A significant number of those musicians honed their skills as students at Texas A&M International University, where Keck served as president from 2001 to 2016. Shortly after his appointment, Keck advocated for an expansion of the university’s music curriculum to include concert production.
Despite initial resistance from the Texas A&M system’s legal counsel, a Memorandum of Understanding was eventually signed, permitting the university to hire a qualified faculty member who would simultaneously serve as musical director of the Laredo Philharmonic. Meanwhile, the Laredo Philharmonic was responsible for covering all costs related to concerts.
This arrangement also designated the campus as a venue for concerts, free of charge to students. Among its fine arts facilities is the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall, which houses the Sharkey Corrigan Organ, donated by businessman and Laredo Philharmonic founding member E.H. Corrigan.
“The LPO helped inspire Laredoans to invest in the cultural life of our community,” Keck said. He added that Corrigan, who had no children, spontaneously gifted the organ to the university and its incoming generations in lieu of blood descendants.
Following Frazor’s departure from the orchestra, Brendan Townsend assumed the role of musical director while serving on TAMIU’s music faculty. The Irish-born cellist brought a contemporary touch to Laredo Philharmonic’s performances by presenting the works of 20th century, American, and self-published composers.
During his 17 years as director, the Laredo Philharmonic received significant recognition, most notably with the KLRN documentary Rhapsody on the Río Grande: A Confluence of Culture, which celebrated the musical diversity of the border region. The film’s musical score, Rapsodia Del Río, was composed by Townsend’s colleague and university organist Dr. Colin Campbell and performed by the Laredo Philharmonic, Dr. Campbell, and Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán de Guadalajara. The documentary, produced by PBS affiliate KLRN, aired nationally and received the 2017 Lone Star Chapter Regional Emmy Award.
The orchestra received further exposure with a special visit from world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma during his Bach Project Day of Action in 2019. The event featured public performances by Ma of select Bach compositions in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, again with key involvement from Townsend, the Laredo Philharmonic, and TAMIU.
Townsend served in this dual role until his death in 2020, a year which saw unprecedented challenges for artistic organizations due the COVID-19 pandemic and its related public health measures. Moreover, the dissolution of the partnership with TAMIU by Keck’s successor severely affected the LPO’s fiscal stability.
“This was a horrific blow to musical culture and education in Laredo,” Keck said. “[It was] hard to understand since the University, as per our Memorandum, had no financial exposure.”
Still, Keck expressed hope that the arrangement can be reinstated through dialogue between the Laredo Philharmonic board members and TAMIU’s newly-appointed president, Dr. Charles Maynard.
Despite these challenges, a resilient symphony has emerged through new leadership and initiatives. Presently, Dr. Joseph Crabtree serves as board president of the Laredo Philharmonic, joined by artistic director Dr. Héctor Agüero. Both have longstanding ties to the organization as performers during Frazor and Townsend’s respective tenures.
Crabtree, professor of music and voice at Laredo College, remains committed to the Laredo Philharmonic’s mission of providing exceptional musical opportunities to students and the community at large.
“The work we do has empowered our students to go and apply what we teach them to advance in their careers,” Crabtree said, referring to Agüero’s own journey from student performer to conductor. An alumnus of the Vidal M. Treviño magnet school, Agüero now serves as associate professor of music at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Speaking of misconceptions about classical music, Crabtree emphasized that the Laredo Philharmonic welcomes all; the only prerequisite is a love of music and community.
“One sometimes hears that it is for ‘others’ and not ‘us.’ I beg to differ with that idea,” Crabtree said. “Our music isn’t out of touch. It is a vital part of the human experience.”
Through years of their own triumphs and losses, the Laredo Philharmonic provides harmony to a city weathering the winds of change. Their ability to find the music in moments of discord is truly the heart of their own symphony — a sound born from ideas and collaboration long before a single note was played — that refuses to rest.
To support Laredo Philharmonic, purchase tickets or view their concert schedule, visit www.laredophilharmonic.com or call (956) 763-9960.
