NWI Symphony Orchestra

The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra held its first concert in Gary, Indiana, on December 7, 1941. In September of that year, Arthur Zack, a cello teacher from Chicago, had relocated to Gary in order to organize an orchestra. The first concert was scheduled for 8:30 p.m., on what we now call Pearl Harbor Day, at Seaman Hall, a theatre that was part of City Methodist Church at Washington Street and 6th Avenue.

Word of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was received just before the concert started and this influenced Zack to begin the concert with the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner for a grieving audience recovering from the events of the day. According to cellist Violet Hayes Wray, “It was the most emotional rendition of the national anthem in which I had ever taken part.”

Fortunately, the concert was very successful and proved that Gary and its surrounding communities could support a civic orchestra. Jennie Gaudio (Wilkinson) was concert mistress. The program included the Corelli Christmas Concerto Grosso, a symphony by Haydn, an overture by Boieldieu, Strauss’ Emperor Waltzes and Three Dances from Smetana’s The Bartered Bride.

Our beginnings were humble—somewhat “grassroots”—with the orchestra comprised of high school students and adults from many walks of life, including a dentist, a funeral director, a printer, college professors, teachers, secretaries and homemakers. In the 1960s, they rehearsed every Tuesday evening for two hours at IUN. For the past several decades, we have been graced by the talents of professional musicians who make a living by playing, not only with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, but also with many other orchestras and ensembles throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area and elsewhere.

As we matured, many well-known musicians and entertainers have performed with the Orchestra, including Benny Goodman, Van Cliburn, André Watts, Gary native James McCracken, Dizzy Gillespie, Itzhak Perlman, Rudolph Nureyev, Marvin Hamlisch, Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band, Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler, The Smothers Brothers, Hal Linden, Rachel Barton Pine, Shirley Jones and others!

As we celebrate 82 years of live symphonic musical performances this season, we are especially proud of our talented musicians, who always make us want to hear more. Thank you!