Indianapolis / Indiana / United States
In the fall of 1940, Mr. Herman H. Rinne decided it was time to have an orchestra for people who loved to play but had other occupations. Mr. Rinne was a musician and business man -- he owned Indiana Music Company at 115 East Ohio Street. He helped establish and played in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for 8 years under the direction of Ferdinand Schaefer. Thirteen players showed up for the first meeting and the orchestra quickly grew to 50 members. Mr. Rinne suggested the name Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra He said we may not be good but at least the name sounds imposing. In March of 1941, officers were elected and shortly after that dues were 10 cents a week. The first concert was held April 28, 1941 at Emmerich Manual Training High School. During world War II the Philharmonic gave benefit performances for service groups and for a couple teen organizations. June 12, 1947, the orchestra became incorporated as the Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis which it remains today. The board members were made up of orchestra members as is true today. The board members were in charge of all areas of orchestra management both business and artistic areas. However there were certain business men who helped raise money for the orchestra. Today the board of directors and music director are still in charge of all music decisions. With the incorporation came scholarships, encouraging composers and young talented musicians, and a system of sustaining memberships. Many scholarships have been given over the years when funds were available. Composers works have been premiered and young musicians have played in and with the orchestra as soloist. For many years attendance at the concerts was reserved for Sustaining members and their guests no tickets were sold at the door. Today we still have different levels of membership, but tickets are also sold at the door. Our first Sustaining membership concert was on April 12, 1948 at Caleb Mills Auditorium of Shortridge High School. Ernst Hoffmann, conductor of the Indiana University Symphony, was our first guest conductor on May 24, 1948. Towards the end of 1948, Mr. Rinne became ill and Mr. Hoffmann became the conductor. On Mr. Rinnes death, February 14, 1949, Mr. Hoffmann became the music director. Wolfgang Vacano from IU guest conducted in the fall of 1954 while Mr. Hoffmann was on leave. Mr. Hoffmann and his wife were killed in an accident on January 3, 1956. Michael Bowles from IU took over Mr. Hoffmanns duties at IU and also became music director of the Philharmonic. Over the years the Philharmonic has rehearsed in many different settings -- from community centers and churches, to the carriage house at Jordan College of Music on North Delaware and from colleges to high schools. We have given concerts in high schools, colleges, different cities, state hospitals, the Girls School, and many places outdoors the zoo, parks, and malls indoor and outdoor. The majority of concerts, if you had to name one place, were given at Caleb Mills Auditorium of Shortridge High School. Our recent 60th anniversary concert was played on stage in the Hilbert Circle Theatre -- a thrill. We have had many guest conductors over the years. Our music directors have been chosen from guest conductors when the need arose.
