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Texas Association for Symphony Orchestras

Texas Association for Symphony Orchestras (TASO) is composed of thirty-two member organizations; made up of volunteers who support an orchestra. There are fourteen affiliate non-voting members. There are twenty-seven Affiliates/Patron non-voting members and twenty-five board members plus thirty-three delegates that make up the state board.

CLICK HERE for a short PowerPoint presentation about our organization.

All member organizations pay annual dues of $125.

Each spring a member organization group hosts the annual conference. In this way, each group has the opportunity to see different cities, orchestras and volunteers.  Board meetings are held in the summer, fall, and winter. Member organization groups send in educational, fund-raising, and service projects as well as nominating a legislator, business, and volunteer for the Award of Excellence. These winners are recognized at the spring conference.
Bylaws

Standing Rules

Past Presidents and Conference Cities
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Our History

The idea for TASO was originally conceived in 1965 at the Women’s Association for Symphony Orchestras (WASO) meeting in New Orleans. The Texas delegations from Houston, Dallas and San Antonio decided it would be beneficial to have such an organization at the state level.

The following 11 leagues/guilds were invited by Mrs. Frank Percy to attend an organizational meeting in Dallas on March 21, 1966 : Abilene, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, San Antonio, Tyler, and Waco. The Conference of the Women’s Committees of Texas Symphony Orchestras was held in Houston on March 13, 1967, with Mrs. Ralph Ellis Gunn presiding. Amarillo and Beaumont were added to the list. At this meeting, Mrs. Henry S. Miller of Dallas was elected the first President of the organization. She presided over the first annual conference of Texas Women’s Association for Symphony Orchestras (TWASO) in El Paso in 1968.

The name of the organization was changed to Texas Association for Symphony Orchestras on May 7,1984 by its 23 members. Each year approximately 150 delegates attend the annual conference to gather information and network with their colleagues. These delegates include presidents, presidents-elect, and volunteer leaders from each organization member group, as well as symphony orchestra managers and staff.

In 1997 TASO initiated a statewide concerto competition to choose an outstanding high school musician. The winner receives a cash award and the opportunity to perform the winning concerto with a symphony orchestra. The Juanita Miller Concerto Competition was named for TASO’s founder.

At the 2001 annual conference in Irving, the TASO delegation voted to open active voting membership to symphony support groups from states surrounding Texas. New Mexico symphony guild joined as TASO's first non-Texan voting member in 2002.
 
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A Brief History of TASO and the
Juanita Miller Concerto Competition

 

On March 21, 1966, eleven city leagues were invited to attend an organizational meeting in Dallas: Abilene, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, San Antonio, Tyler and Waco.  Mrs. Henry S. Miller (Juanita) was elected the first president of the Texas Woman’s Association for Symphony Orchestras (TWASO).  The first Annual conference was held in El Paso in 1968.

The name of the organization was changed to Texas Association for Symphony Orchestras (TASO) on May 7, 1984 by its twenty-three member organizations. Each year close to 150 delegates from 32 organizations attend the annual conference to gather information and network with their colleagues.  These delegates include presidents, presidents-elect, and volunteer leaders from each member group.

In 1997, Juanita and Henry S. Miller provided the initial underwriting and subsequent gifts to fund this youth competition, which now bears her name.  It Mr. and Mrs. Miller’s dedication, vision, generosity and devotion to music that led to the establishment of a statewide youth competition for outstanding high school musicians. 

In hosting this competition, TASO continues to employ a professional approach for selecting the winners by choosing outstanding judges from across the country.