08 Oct Lubbock Symphony Orchestra Celebrates 80 Years with Landmark Performance

The Lubbock Symphony Orchestra marks a major milestone this month, celebrating eight decades of classical music on the South Plains with an ambitious performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem. The 80th-anniversary concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Buddy Holly Hall.

What began 80 years ago on the stage of Lubbock High School through the vision of founder William Harrod has grown into a cornerstone cultural institution for the region. The move from a high school auditorium to a state-of-the-art performing arts center highlights both the ensemble’s evolution and the steady growth of the city itself.

Under the baton of Music Director David Cho, now in his 15th season, the orchestra will be joined by the Lubbock Chorale and four guest vocal soloists. Composed in 1874, Verdi’s Requiem remains one of the most performed and intensely dramatic choral masterworks in the symphonic repertoire, offering a monumental piece to showcase the milestone season.

Festivities begin early when doors open at 6 p.m., featuring a pre-concert lobby performance by local jazz ensemble the Keegan Peck Quartet.

The anniversary event is presented by Armstrong Plumbing, Air and Electric, with additional celebration support from local businesses including Alan Henry Insurance, Casserole Premium Quality Beans, Chicken Express, Evensky and Katz/Foldes Wealth Management, and Robinson and Malone Dentistry. Funding support is also provided by several regional arts foundations, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the City of Lubbock through Civic Lubbock, Inc.

The Buddy Holly Hall is located in the Lubbock Cultural District at Mac Davis Lane and Avenue L. Tickets and event information are available online through etix.com.