Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra

In 1949, in the warmth of Parl Brooks’ living room on Clark Street in Orchard Park, a small group of passionate musicians gathered with a bold idea—to bring orchestral music to their community. With the support of the Orchard Park Central School District’s adult education program, they formed what would become the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra, welcoming their first conductor, the esteemed Joseph Wincenc.

Their debut—a spirited open rehearsal—hinted at the promise to come. That evening featured pianist Betty Smith (Mrs. George Smith), whose moving performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major set a high artistic standard the orchestra continues to uphold.

Today, more than seven decades later, we honor those humble beginnings and the visionary musicians who laid the groundwork for a thriving cultural institution. With gratitude for our founders and the generations of supporters who followed, we carry their legacy forward—delivering powerful, inspiring performances that resonate in Orchard Park and beyond.