MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
A new orchestral organization is forming in Hutchinson, aiming to revive and expand opportunities for local musicians while strengthening the community’s connection to live orchestral music.
Crystal Blackwelder, Dan Spears, and Bob Rate—former members of the Hutchinson Symphony—are among the musicians leading the creation of the Salt City Orchestra, a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The group emerged after the Hutchinson Symphony disbanded a few years ago, leaving a gap in orchestral music opportunities in the area.
“We were disappointed to see the symphony go away,” Spears said. “A number of us are musicians who love orchestral music, and we felt Hutchinson deserved to have an orchestra again.”
The process of launching the Salt City Orchestra has been underway for roughly eight to nine months, involving board formation, nonprofit organization, and outreach to musicians and former patrons. The group currently has about 25 to 30 musicians on its roster, along with eight board members, and access to a mailing list of approximately 1,500 former supporters of the previous symphony.
All three founders have deep roots in local music education and performance. Spears teaches band and choir at Little River schools, while Blackwelder is a former band teacher who now gives private flute lessons. Rate previously played trumpet with the former symphony. Organizers say that commitment to education and community access will be central to the new orchestra’s mission.
“A large portion of our board members are former music educators,” Blackwelder said. “We want this to be a family-friendly orchestra and encourage young people to see what’s possible after high school.”
The Salt City Orchestra is already partnering with other local arts organizations. String players from the orchestra will perform with the choir at Hutchinson Community College for a concert in March. In addition, the group will host a public meet-and-greet on Jan. 27 as part of Classical Revolution ICT at Sandhills Brewing, featuring performances by a brass quintet and a string quartet made up of orchestra members.
Looking ahead to summer, the orchestra plans to continue a popular tradition with a free outdoor concert at Dillon Nature Center on June 19. A weather contingency date has been set for July 10. Audience members will be encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the performance.
Organizers say the orchestra is actively seeking additional musicians, particularly string players, and are prioritizing local talent. “There is a lot of ability right here in Hutchinson,” Spears said. “We want this orchestra to reflect the community and give local musicians the opportunities they deserve.”
Long-term goals include building a sustainable organization, broadening community engagement, and exploring innovative programming. Ideas under discussion include performing contemporary orchestral scores, movie-with-live-orchestra events at the Fox Theatre, and potential collaborations with regional productions such as The Nutcracker.
While the orchestra’s website is still under development, interested musicians and supporters can follow the Salt City Orchestra on Facebook or contact the group by email at [email protected].
“Our main goal is sustainability,” organizers said. “Hutchinson is large enough, talented enough, and supportive enough to have its own orchestra—and we’re excited to build it together.”