Hector Guzman | Music Director
ABOUT THE
IRVING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide artistically satisfying musical and educational programs for the people of Irving and the surrounding region; creating a climate in which the Irving Symphony Orchestra will flourish in a fiscally sound manner.
INCLUSION STATEMENT
We, Irving Symphony Orchestra (ISO), believe that diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices create, sustain, and build strong organizations. We endeavor to model inclusion and equity in all areas of our organization including programming, employment, and audience engagement. By so doing, we will increase the diversity of our orchestra, and by treasuring the experiences and ideas of each person, we deepen our collective creative perspectives.
The ISO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression or identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
BRIEF HISTORY
The Irving Symphony Orchestra (ISO) began as most community orchestras have, with a
small group of musicians who formed the Irving String Ensemble from at that time, the
The University of Dallas. In 1961, the ISO Association was formed, and the first official concert was presented at Irving High School on December 10, 1962, with 23 volunteer musicians.
By 1963 the orchestra became a significant music group in Irving. The first Irving
The Symphony benefit ball was held in 1967 and was an annual major event for several years. The ISO performed in England with the Wimbledon Symphony Orchestra as part of a cultural exchange with Irving’s Sister City, Merton--a section of London. In 1988 the orchestra moved from being a community orchestra to a full-fledged professional symphony
association, with all paid musicians with degrees from top music schools and conservatories.
Maestro Hector Guzman became the Music Director/Conductor of the ISO in 1991 further
elevating the Symphony’s status among regional symphonic organizations. Maestro Guzman
holds degrees from the Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, Southern Methodist University, and the University of North Texas and has studied with many illustrious conductors. Maestro Guzman has guest conducted in the United States, Mexico, Japan, Italy, Dominican Republic, Korea, China, Vietnam, Poland, and Spain. Currently, under his music direction, the ISO has eleven (11) performances including six (6) concerts in its subscription season, four (4) multi-media free youth concerts with mini-clinics for more than 6,000 students of the Irving Independent School District, as well as other free community concerts and educational events for local families and surrounding neighbors.
The Irving Symphony League was organized in 1970 to provide support services to the ISO. The League organized and fostered the Symphony Belles which later evolved into the Ovation Program for volunteer service to the Orchestra by community members and high school students assisting with hosting duties and ticket handling at performances. The League also sponsors scholarship awards for seniors in high school who are planning to continue their post-high school graduation education in a musical field of study.