Mighty oaks from little acorns grow is a saying that befitted Key West 27 years ago this March. In March 1998, Key West’s first Symphony was conducted. A fundraiser. Followed in December 1998 by a full orchestra of 48 musicians. The group was referred to as the Key West Symphony.
Tiny Key West had given birth to a for real symphony. Operated for years in Key West. Grew and moved on to become the South Florida Symphony Orchestra which now operates out of Fort Lauderdale and today maintains concerts from Palm Beach south to Key West.
How did the impossible begin.
Four persons met in December 1997 at Casa Antigua. Sabrina Maria Alfonso, Tom Oosterhoudt, Elena Spottswood and Theresa Smith. I knew three of the persons. I assume the meeting came about by Sabrina talking with Tom about starting a symphony and Tom suggesting Elena and Theresa. Whatever, the four met and the bomb was delivered. And a bomb it was! Key West a community of less than 30,000 to have a symphony?
Sabrina was Key West born. An educated musical talent. Her goal in life to lead a symphony. Tom who knew everyone. Elena who likewise knew many. And Theresa,
If the other three could put together a symphony, Sabrina would lead it.
Elena became the leader of the pack. In her words, “I didn’t know anything about a symphony orchestra. I was so excited I asked Sabrina if the Symphony could play ‘Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time,’ a song by the Delfonics.” Sabrina smiled. She did however provide a Key West touch to the first symphony by having the local group the Spectrelles open with “I Hear a Symphony.” The Spectrelles were stars at The Bull on Duval Street.
Elena was a worker. She assembled a group of her girl friends to help. They, including two men, became the first Symphony Board. The men Tom Oosterhoudt and Eric DeBoer. The ladies Rachel Oropeza, Caroline Ford, Marcia DePoo, Julia Orofino, Yvette Talbot, Virginia Wright, Pam Lockwood and Orchid Durkin.
At the same time, Elena sat with pen and paper and hand wrote letters to persons asking for contributions. They dripped in. Small amounts. Then she received a $500 one. She knew she was on her way. Some checks got even bigger.
The symphony orchestra was not the same unit that performed all the time. Sabrina would solicit the best musicians from across the country to come to Key West to perform. For pay, of course. The Symphony was a professional operation.
One problem was getting the musicians from Miami to Key West and back. Elena and the ladies solicited American Airlines. They spoke with a Jacques Fauchand. His voice and message gave them the impression he was a Frenchman. Turned out his real name was Juan Bachon. He was of Puerto Rican extraction. He wanted the Symphony deal and Elena and her team wanted American Airlines…..For Free!
Fauchand agreed. The Symphony flew free for a long period of time.
All of a sudden, American Airlines wanted payment. Elena and her team said no way! One, they did not have the money. And two, they had an agreement that the flights were to be free.
American Airlines lived up to the agreement, but fired Fauchand who was really Bachon.
The Holiday Inn at the time sat at the intersection of North Roosevelt Drive and U.S. 1. The home of what eventually became the Marriott Beachside and today the Beachside. The General Manager was Doug Wright. He agreed that Holiday Inn would provide free rooms for the musicians. He was an honorable man and never tried to back out of the deal. For years, the Holiday Inn housed the musicians.
Note that it would have been economically impossible for the Symphony to have made it without the free American Airline flights and Holiday Inn rooms.
When the Symphony began its presentations in 1998, the Board members worked every Symphony to raise additional monies. They had tables set up in the entrance lounge to the Tennessee Williams Theater from whence the Board members sold tee shirt and hats.
Eventually Elena and the Board members realized they needed additional talent on the Board. They began adding lawyers, accountants and business persons. A smart move. However the original Board did well without such assistance. Bless them!
The first Board meetings took place at Elena’s home on Caroline Street. She served chocolate kisses and cashews.
The Symphony’s first concert was the March 1998 fundraiser held at the Tennessee Williams Theater. The house was packed. The attendees parked their pick up trucks in the lot and came attired in Key West’s usual sports attire. No black tie and tails for Key West.
Elena was the first President and continued in that capacity for years.
It is frequently said when something unusual happens in Key West…..Only in Key West! The Symphony’s success an example of the saying.