History of the Erie Philharmonic
The history of the Erie Philharmonic began on November 30, 1913, when the Erie Symphonic Orchestra, a 50 piece ensemble under the direction of Franz Kohler, presented a concert of “Sacred Music” in the Colonial Theatre on Peach Street. The title notwithstanding, the concert was entirely symphonic and was enthusiastically received by the Erie audience. Kohler, who had been concertmaster and first violinist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 1897-1911, conducted the orchestra until 1916 when his health failed.
In 1920, following a lapse of four years and the end of World War I, the orchestra was reorganized under the direction of Henry Bethuel Vincent. As music director for one season, Vincent revised the orchestra under the sanction of the American Federation of Musicians so that professional and amateur musicians played together. Concerts were presented in the Park Opera House, originally located on North Park row, as well as in the Colonial Theatre and Collegiate Academy.
Under the baton of John R. Metcalf, from 1931 to 1947, the orchestra reached a new level of support from the community. The orchestra also found a new home in the spacious confines of Strong Vincent High School. The Erie Philharmonic Society was created to sponsor the orchestra, and in 1947 all members of the orchestra were paid union scale wages. The orchestra also became a charter member of the American Symphony Orchestra League in 1942.
These images are from the first printed program book on record in our archives along with a picture from Strong Vincent in 1937.
Fritz Mahler (a nephew of legendary composer Gustav Mahler) was appointed music director in 1947 and performed the orchestra’s first pops concert in 1948. In 1950, the Erie Philharmonic sponsored its first important commission, Peter Mennin’s (Erie native) “Concerto for Orchestra,” which has established itself in the orchestral repertoire.
The Erie Philharmonic Chorus began its great tradition in October of 1952, singing choruses from "La Traviata" under the direction of Fritz Mahler.
In 1947, Music Director Fritz Mahler establish what would become the Erie Junior Philharmonic, which today still serves as an important part of the Philharmonic’s educational activities. After the next Music Director, James Sample (1953-67), the orchestra continued its artistic achievements under the batons of John Gosling (1967-76), Harold Bauer (1974-76), Walter Hendl (1976-90), Eiji Oue (1990-96), Peter Bay (1996-99), and Hugh Keelan (2000-06).
In the summer of 2007, our current conductor Daniel Meyer was named the 12th Music Director of the Erie Philharmonic. Maestro Meyer has led the orchestra to never-before-seen heights with more than 40 sold out performances, record ticket sales, world premieres, life-changing educational programming and more.
On January 23, 2022, the Erie Philharmonic returned home to a newly renovated Warner Theatre after a season of televised performances and outdoor concerts due to an industry-wide shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click below for an amazing video showcasing the incredible transformation of the orchestra’s home.
This performance of Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man was recorded on the exact same spot both during and after the renovations.
A Brief History
Digital Archives
Click below to view an explorable gallery with images from the 1960s and earlier!
U.S. State Department Recording
Re-discovered in 2016, this recording of a 1950 Erie Philharmonic Youth Concert was broadcast on Voice of America Radio. See below for original newspaper article, TV news story, picture of the original record and audio from the recording.
NBC Pioneers of Music
Enjoy a live broadcast of the Erie Philharmonic, under the direction of Fritz Mahler, from January 21, 1950 at Strong Vincent Auditorium.
This historical program was featured as part of NBC’s “Pioneers of Music” radio program and was recently reacquired from the Library of Congress.
