Music to our ears

By Lethbridge Herald on October 8, 2025.

Herald Photo by Joe Manio A Night at the Symphony Music Director Glenn Klassen conducts the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra during their first performance of the 2022 - 2026 Season Monday evening, at Southminster United Church.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra (LSO) began its 2025-26 season with “Symphony I” at Southminster United Church Monday evening. Over 400 people of all ages gathered there to hear the community orchestra perform “Scheherazade” by Rimsky Korsakov and “La Mer” (“The Sea”) by Claude Debussy.

Korsakov’s Scheherazade (1888) is a symphonic suite inspired by the tales of “One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights).” It tells the story of the clever storyteller Scheherazade, who captivates a vengeful sultan with her enchanting tales to delay her execution.

Debussy’s La Mer (1905) is an impressionistic orchestral work that portrays the shifting moods and power of the sea. Divided into three movements, the piece captures the ocean’s beauty, energy, and mystery through shimmering harmonies, fluid rhythms, and vivid orchestral colors.

An LSO donor chose the opening works for the first concert of the season, which LSO music director Glenn Klassen said provided an early-on challenge for the musicians.

“This is a great start for the orchestra; it was a very challenging program for us,” said Klassen. “Some of these musicians had their music already in summertime. That was one of the nice things about getting it to them early because it’s very demanding on the orchestra, but the rewards are there too.”

The rewards included a standing ovation by the audience at the end of each performance. And this was just the first of six scheduled for the season. 

Symphony II in November is “The Andrew Lloyd Webber Experience” and Symphony III in December is “Home for the Holidays,” with three more performances in 2026.

The LSO was founded in 1961 by Albert Rodnunsky (the LSO’s first conductor), and lays claim to being the oldest community orchestra in Southern Alberta. Established by local volunteers, the orchestra has grown into a recognized resource for community music in the region. 

The Galt Museum & Archives notes the symphony is an important resource in Southern Alberta that many take for granted. 

“We are so fortunate in our size of community to have qualified musicians like we have, and people who work hard and want to do this kind of thing,” said Klassen.

What makes the LSO special is that it’s a community music resource because it’s truly a community orchestra, made up of musicians of all ages and diverse backgrounds.

“Our musicians are your neighbours, your colleagues and your friends,” said LSO Association board member Justin Ellis. “Many have full time careers outside of music. They’re teachers, professors, doctors, scientists, accountants, lawyers and students who come together simply because they love to play.”

The symphony has grown over time, moving from performing at the Yates Memorial Theatre to Southminster United Church to accommodate larger audiences and performances. They have diversified their offerings to attract different viewers, with an annual Kids Choir event and a young artist competition.

“The symphony in general would like to put it out there that we’re not after any specific kind of demographic. We love it when young people come out and here us play,” said Klassen.

He added that the LSO, and symphonies in general, are trying to dispel the image of going to orchestral concerts as being elitist events; and that there really is something for everyone at the symphony.

“We are trying really hard to say come as you are. You don’t have to dress up if you don’t want to. Just come and enjoy the music.”

The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra’s second performance, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Experience is on Nov. 16-17 at Southminster United Church. The first performance is on Nov. 16 at 3 p.m., and the second (evening) performance is on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

For tickets and information on upcoming performances, visit: lethbridgesymphony.org