1 April 1933

Civic Symphony Orchestra

The Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra can trace its roots back to the founding of the Verweire Symphony Orchestra in January 1924. Financial difficulties forced this orchestra to disband, but within a short time, the orchestra was reborn as the Fort Wayne Civic Symphony Orchestra. Musicians were added and all musicians were paid for rehearsal time and performances. Officially chartered on April 1, 1933 and led by conductor Gaston Bailhe, the Civic Symphony became the first permanent orchestra of its type in Fort Wayne.

The first public concert by the Civic Symphony was held on Sunday, June 11, 1933 in the Concordia College Concert Hall. On June 13, 1944, a new orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, was incorporated and the two orchestras ran in competition with each other for two years. The orchestras were merged in 1946 under the operation of the Fort Wayne Musical Society, eventually becoming known as the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra.

The framed original charter document is signed by each of the 171 charter members of the Fort Wayne Civic Symphony Orchestra Society, many of them prominent persons in the community. It reads:

"We, the undersigned, recognizing the vital importance of a symphony orchestra in the cultural advancement of our city, do hereby attach our names as charter members of the Fort Wayne Civic Orchestra Society.
April 1933"