Vision Statement

As ambassadors for the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the talented, devoted, and diverse members of the Guild educate and build community relationships that ensure our musical legacy. The Guild provides its members with friendship, fun worthwhile endeavors, networking, a sense of belonging, and personal growth through teamwork and trust.

Membership Information

The New Mexico Symphony Guild enthusiastically welcomes new members at any time. The Guild is an organization of volunteers committed to supporting the Orchestra through financial, educational, and promotional activities that are exciting, personally challenging, and very rewarding.

Our goals are:

• To support the objectives of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
• To explore, develop, organize, promote, and support fundraising events
• To promote music appreciation and educational opportunities throughout the community
• To increase public awareness of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the Guild

History

• 1932–Albuquerque Civic Symphony was founded
• 1952–The Albuquerque Women's Association was established
• 1956–The Doñita Program, a service and volunteer organization for high school girls, was founded. It later evolved into the Señoritas of the Symphony Program
• 1966–Albuquerque Civic Symphony changed its name to the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra to reflect statewide involvement
• 2002–The Guild celebrated its 50th anniversary
• 2007–The Guild celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Symphony Ball

Membership Requirements
The most important aspect of the Guild is our membership. Anyone who is interested in the welfare of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra is eligible and welcome. The Guild membership year runs from June 1 to May 31.

Annual Membership Fees:
Active Members $35 with service requirement
Active Couples $60 with service requirement
Contributing Members (Social) $70 with service appreciated, but not required
Contributing Couples (Social) $130 with service appreciated, but not required
C-Note Members $100 with service appreciated, but not required
C-Note Couples $175 with service appreciated, but not required
Lifetime Members $1,000 with service appreciated, but not required

For further information, contact the Vice President for Membership, Marianne Kelly through the Symphony Office at 881-9590.

Señorita Program

The Señoritas of the Symphony is a long-standing program of the New Mexico Symphony Guild. In 1957, the Albuquerque Women's Symphony Association established the Doñita Program as a way to recognize the daughters of symphony supporters. Many changes have occurred over the years. The Albuquerque Women's Symphony Association became the New Mexico Symphony Guild, and the Doñita Program became the Señoritas of the Symphony.

The program also changed and has become a unique opportunity for young women who choose to participate. What began as a selective social debut has evolved into a full year of educational, social and volunteer activities. The program has won awards from the American Symphony Orchestra League, and in 2007 was awarded the Education Award from the Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras, of which the NMSG is a member. The program focuses on personal growth and community service to prepare young women for college and adult life. Some of the activities include working with Habitat for Humanity, UNM Children's Hospital and the NMSO. The educational sessions have included preventive self-defense with an APD officer, cooking and nutritional skills, auto maintenance and "breaking away" advice from a local psychologist. The young women are presented to the community at the annual Symphony Ball, and all funds raised benefit the NMSO. The 2007 Symphony Ball marked the 50th anniversary of the Symphony Ball and included a reunion of Doñitas/Señoritas.

The program is open to all high school senior girls and entails fees paid to the NMSO. Prospective Señoritas should contact the Guild in the spring semester of their junior year. For more comprehensive information, contact Señoritas Vice-President Suzanne Fossett at FossetInc@aol.com.

Guild FUNd Raiser

A Symphony of Flavors From the Southwest

A collection of great recipes from the New Mexico Symphony Guild in an attractive 3-ring binder with cookbook stand included. $20.00. Contact Chris Lee at flinellee@aol.com.

Educational Programs

Peter and the Wolf
The Peter and the Wolf Program received the 2003 American Symphony Orchestra Gold Award for Education.
Click here for more information.

Popejoy Concerts
Click here for more information.

Jackie McGehee Young Artists' Competition

Sponsored by the Symphony Guild and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the Jackie McGehee Young Artists' Competition is a juried contest for talented New Mexico pianists under 19 years of age. The competition, in its 17th year, was held on Saturday, March 9, 2008, at Keller Hall, Fine Arts Center, on the UNM campus.

In 2006, the Young Artists' Competition was named for Jackie McGehee. She is a past President of the Guild, past Chair of the NMSO Board of Trustees, and founder of the Competition.

Each performance is a memorized movement of a concerto, no longer than 15 minutes. Three well-qualified judges choose the winner among the contestants. The other contestants also receive cash prizes if funds are available. All contestants receive a recording of their performance and the judges’ comments.

In 2007, Thomas Allen, a 14-year-old pianist, won the competition by playing Chopin's Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Opus 11, Allegro maestoso. He is a student of Dr. Falko Steinbach. Thomas received a $700 prize and performed with the NMSO at the Mother's Day concert at the Rio Grande Zoo.

Also competing in 2007 were Lawrence Z. Cai, Catherine Chen, and Kathy Lin, all of Los Alamos and students of Lynn Lamb; Tony Huang and Sarah Liu, both of Albuquerque and students of Lawrence Blind; Gregory Howard Martin of Farmington, a student of Tatiana Vetrinskaya; and Elissa Mendez-Renk and Alexina Pepin, both of Albuquerque and students of Astrid Groth.

2008 Guild Calendar

May 2008
22 - General Membership Luncheon

Guild Executive Board

Committee Chairs