The Symphony Of Southeast Texas In 2015: A Regional Orchestra Navigating New Horizons

The Symphony of Southeast Texas (Beaumont, TX) is the only professional symphony orchestra between Houston, TX, and Lake Charles, LA. From 2010- 2014, the organization focused on resolving internal management and financial challenges. Additionally, the orchestra identified 3 major goals: (1) To be an orchestra able to play anything, (2) To be an orchestra reaching 1/3 of the local population each season, and (3) To be an orchestra hosting a music school with a full youth orchestra. As the 2014 -2015 season began, these initiatives created a position full of possibilities for the orchestra’s new executive director. He could now reach beyond simply solving problems within the organization, in order to bring the community of Southeast Texas a new perspective on classical music and the Symphony. This case study, best used in undergraduate or graduate management, marketing, service management, nonprofit management, operations management, or strategy courses, describes the progress of the orchestra and studies the opportunities and challenges still facing the Symphony of Southeast Texas in light of this new era. The information presented in the case study was obtained through interviews with staff and board members of the organization, along with a case study of the orchestra conducted in 2010. The findings were then analyzed to identify trends in opinions among members of the organization and to gather facts about the current management and the future of the Symphony of Southeast Texas. The study finds that the Symphony is well-managed, but must find new, exciting ways to fulfill its mission of reaching the community