History

The Littleton Symphony Orchestra (LSO), now celebrating its 42nd season, is one of the premier arts organizations in the greater Denver metropolitan area. This vibrant community orchestra is composed of more than 65 dedicated members, most of whom are volunteer, amateur, and semi-professional musicians who share a passion for music. The LSO was founded in 1984 when a violinist wanted to play in a community orchestra close to her home in Littleton. She was not alone—fourteen other string players and a keyboardist joined her. The Littleton Chamber Orchestra held its first concert at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on November 7th, 1984. Glen McCune conducted as they played works by Albinoni, Bartok, Britten, Mozart, Popper, and Fletcher. The violinist seeking a shorter commute was Christie Possehl, who still plays violin with the LSO today.

In 1986, the Littleton Chamber Orchestra became a full symphony orchestra, adding winds, brass, and percussion, and growing the string section. It adopted the name Littleton Symphony Orchestra to reflect the growing membership. By 1990, when LSO held its first holiday concert, the orchestra had 50 members. LSO performed Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, which it continues to perform at holiday shows, much to the delight of our audiences. Since its founding, the LSO has had five music directors: Glen McCune (1984 to 1985); Bill Skoog (1985 to 1987); Luis A. Toro (1988 to 1991); Jurgen de Lemos (1991 to 2021); and Catherine Sailer (2022 to present). In 2023, LSO added its first formal Assistant Conductor, Hector Jardon (2023 to present).

During his 30-year tenure, Maestro de Lemos, former principal cellist of the Colorado Symphony, grew the LSO in both size and quality. Programming challenging and beloved classical works, Maestro de Lemos also featured recognized soloists. These include Adam Barnett-Hart, Yumi Hwang-Williams, Katie Mahan, and Geraldine Walther. Today, the LSO performs a wide range of music, from the traditional Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, and Mahler, to contemporary and new works by living composers of all backgrounds.

Since its founding, LSO has performed more than 180 concerts with music by over 230 composers. Now under the leadership of Music Director and Conductor Catherine Sailer, the LSO presents a rich season of four classical concerts and a festive holiday performance, all designed to elevate the human spirit through the power of live orchestral music. Deeply committed to community engagement, the LSO also offers an annual free family concert and a summer concert series at local parks, bringing the joy of music to audiences of all ages year-round. Our community following continues to grow and blossom. We are grateful for the enthusiastic community support.

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