The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra was founded in the fall of 1929 by G.T. Bennett, Director of the East Waterloo High School Orchestra; Ralph Pronk, director of the West Waterloo High School Orchestra; Cressy Whalen, then president of the Waterloo Musicians Union; and the late Myron Russell, emeritus head of the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa. In 1929 the orchestra was named the Waterloo Symphony Orchestra.

The September 19, 1929 edition of the Waterloo Courier carried the public announcement about the establishment of the orchestra to the community with an accompanying photograph featuring the 75 musicians.

Then, as now, community resources were solicited to underwrite the cost of the orchestra. Listed as charter "Sponsors" were the University Women's Club, the Business and Professional Women's Club, the B Natural Club and the Waterloo Supervisor's Club. Early "Endorsers" were Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, Y-Men's Clubs, American Legion and the Chamber of Commerce. The tradition of community giving continues as over the last 71 years, hundreds of businesses, foundations and individuals have been added to the list of original patrons who, through their generosity and civic pride, have helped finance the expenses of maintaining an outstanding orchestra in the communities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls.

The first concert was held at East High School, Thursday, February 6, 1930, with Mr. Bennet as conductor, sharing the honor with Mr. Pronk. This first concert featured two soloists: Mr. William E. Hayes, tenor, from the Iowa State Teachers College; and Myron Russell, English horn soloist, also from Iowa State Teachers College.

Mr. Cressy Whalen was the first president of the Waterloo Symphony Orchestra Association which, through the years has been the governing body guiding the orchestra's functions and fortunes. A total of forty-four different individuals have served as President of the orchestra; sixteen serving for more than one term of office. Following Mr. Whalen were Robert Parrott, Dr. Edward Rohlf, Dr. R.J. Carroll, Guy French, Ben F. Butler, Rev. David Jones, Dr. Frank Shaw, W.P. Hogan, Homer Asquith, Horace Van Metre, Dr. H.L. Sisson, Charles Swisher, Warren Mead, Sefton Abbott, Roger Tillapaugh, Richard Baker, Edward McCoy, Dr. Philip Hastings, Jay Levi, Robert Noonan, Henry Cutler, Dr. James Hutcheon, Victor Kennedy, George Day, Kathy Frerichs, Parke Behn, James Martin, James Potter, Bill Jenner, David Evans, Jean Ann Stoaks, Ed Wilson, Ken Wernimont, Marge Brom, David H. Buck, George Cemore, Jeri Jenner Karr, Joni Hollen, Wes Heitzman, David R. Mason, Mark Baldwin, Mary Kabel, Kathleen Wernimont, and the current president, Richard J. Congdon.

There have been fourteen conductors of the orchestra since its beginnings. G.T. Bennett and Ralph Pronk conducted the first two concerts and Dr. Edward Kurtz, the head of the Orchestra Department at Iowa State Teachers College, was made official conductor in 1931.

Edward Kurtz George Dasch Jeanette Sheerer Otto Jelinek Matys Abas Myron Russell Donald Wendt (Acting Music Director) Lathon Jernigan (Resident Conductor) Joseph Giunta (Music Director and Conductor) Music Director Search Music Director Search Elizabeth Schulze (Music Director and Conductor) John LoPiccolo (Music Director and Conductor) Jack Graham (Acting Music Director and Conductor) Richard Rosenberg Richard Rosenberg (Principal Guest Conductor) Jason Weinberger (Music Director)

1931-1935 1935-1944 1944 1947-1955 1955-1958 1958-1971 1971-1972 1972-1974 1974-1992 1992-1993 1993-1994 1994-1997 1998-1998 1998-2000 2000-2001 2001-02 2002-

The personnel of the orchestra includes professional and amateur musicians from local and surrounding communities.

Soloists have been engaged over the years from throughout the world. Those who have performed with the orchestra over the years have been Gladys Swarthout, Janos Starker, Gyorgy Sandor, Rafael Druian, Josef Gingold, Charles Treger, Reri Grist, Leon Lishner and Rafael Mendez. Also appearing as soloists were Sigurd Rascher, saxophone; Kimio-Eto, koto player; Paul Draper, dancer; Rey de la Torre, guitar. In recent years, Victor Borge, Ferrante and Teicher, Robert Merrill, Peter Nero, Clamma Dale, The King's Singers, Maureen Forrester, John Browning, Isaac Stern, and "Doc" Severinsen have appeared with the orchestra.

Soloists from the University of Northern Iowa faculty have included Jvone Maxwell, Emil Bock, Russell Baum, Harold Holst, Frank Hill, Joyce Gault, Charles Matheson, Jane Birkhead, Myron Russell, Karl Holvik, Thomas Barry, Frederick Halgedahl, Jon Hansen, Keith Johnson, Howard Aibel, Rowena Hammill, Angeleita Floyd, Leslie Morgan, Jonathan Chenoweth, Randy Hogancamp and Thomas Tritle.

The Women's Committee of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, with a current membership of approximately 225 women, has been very important for its support of the orchestra. In 1965 the name of this orchestra-minded group was changed to the Waterloo Symphony Orchestra Guild. The organization annually raises at least $25,000 for the Orchestra.

In 1969 the Orchestra Association voted to change the name of the Waterloo Symphony Orchestra to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra is a member of the American Symphony Orchestra League.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra is supported by grants from the Iowa Arts Council, the Community Foundation of Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Northeast Iowa, the City of Waterloo, the City of Cedar Falls, the R.J. McElroy Trust, and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.