The Symphony of the Hills (SoH) brings superb classical orchestral music to audiences in the Hill Country of Texas. Partnered with Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, the orchestra comprises skilled and professional musicians from the Hill Country, including faculty and advanced music students from the University.

The Season of Classical music performances comprises four Thursday-evening concerts starting at 7:30 PM. The 2010-2011 Season began in late October and will end on April 28, 2011.

In the past Season, which ended on May 2, 2010, we added two Pops Concerts featuring artists of renown, accompanied by the Symphony of the Hills. The first of these, featuring Don Braswell, was a sell-out. The second concert in January 2010, spotlighting an all-time international favorite, the New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band, was also sold out.

The Symphony of the Hills Association is a non-profit Texas corporation with a two-fold mission: Bringing superb classical music to audiences in the Hill Country of Texas and developing the musical appreciation and skill of young musicians throughout the area. It is the conviction of the Officers and Directors of the Association, and of the conductor and musicians of the orchestra, that the orchestra performs a valuable service through providing fine music to area residents, thus enhancing the quality of life to all who embrace classical symphonic music.

The SoH is an outgrowth of a community orchestra begun in the late-1990s by retired Schreiner University professor Dr. Charlotte Marrow. The original volunteer orchestra presented two concerts a year. In appreciation for her vision and efforts, in 2000 the SOH board named her to the honorary post of Conductor Emeritus.

In 2001, under the leadership of Schreiner University President Dr. Tim Summerlin, the orchestra was reorganized into a professional group with a separate board of directors comprising various community leaders. The Symphony of the Hills Association was born. The original board voted to establish a four concert season, charge admission to the concerts and pay the musicians. This certainly set the bar much higher than it had been previously, since paying audiences expect professional performances and musicians who are paid for their services definitely demonstrate a higher level of commitment to the orchestra.

Ed Wallace was the first president; Joe Herring, Jr. was one of the founding board members and served as President of the Association following Ed Wallace's tenure.  Concerts in the first two seasons (2001-2002 and 2002-2003) were held in Dietert Auditorium on the campus of Schreiner University while the community awaited the completion of renovations to the 834-seat Cailloux Theater.

Since the 2003 move to the Cailloux Theater, the Symphony has enjoyed remarkable success, bringing music to Hill Country residents within a 30 mile radius around Kerrville. As in years past,  the orchestra will offer one performance of each classical concert on Thursday evenings, and, for the March program, will provide two (slightly abridged) concerts for approximately 1600 3rd and 4th Grade students from Kerrville, Center Point, Comfort, Harper, Ingram, Hunt and Fredericksburg. As the opportunities present themselves, SoH will present additional pops presentations, as was the case with the Flash Cadillac concert in November, 2010. An additional pops concert will be presented in early 20`1. See Programs for details.