Welcome to the THSO History and Legacy Blog!
Over the past two years, a small group of dedicated volunteers have been digging through Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra archives, examining old photos and videos, reading old concert programs, and scanning old association files. The goal of this group has been to write a new history of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra! This blog is the result of that effort.
Be sure to look for a new post on this blog every Friday starting February 20 and continuing through December 4, 2026. These dates are intentionally chosen because each marks an important centennial milestone:
February 21, 1926, is the date of the first public mention of the THSO in local newspapers!
December 4, 1926, is the date of the THSO’s first concert!
Between these two dates, posts will cover approximately a decade per month (with some exceptions). That means you can expect a post about the orchestra’s founding on February 20, a post about conductor Jim Barnes’ early years starting in 1949 around May 1, Ray Meyer’s era starting around July 24, and David Bowden after mid-September. We plan to discuss noteworthy orchestra members, community partners, important venues, and how the orchestra responded to historical events like the Great Depression and World War II. We hope to share old photos and videos, programs, promotional brochures, and more along the way!
We invite you to comment and give us feedback. Tell us your THSO story! if you have something to add or correct in our posts, let us know! We are eager to hear from those of you with a THSO history of your own.