In Friday’s (7/16) Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Melinda Mason writes about the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s summertime concert series. “It was Chicago’s Ravinia Music Festival that inspired a sound idea that just recently celebrated two decades of success. Concerts in the Garden welcomed over 40,000 music lovers to its 20th anniversary season at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden for six weekends of performances under the stars.” Fort Worth Symphony Executive Director Ann Koonsman made her inspiration a reality. “ ‘Barry Green of Ben E. Keith saw the vision and immediately came on board as a sponsor along with Burlington Northern Railroad,’ Koonsman said. … The Star-Telegram also came forward with free ads to get this fledgling event off the ground. After that first year, community supporters quickly joined in. These visionaries included Wells Fargo, Frank Kent Cadillac, Hawk Electronics, XTO Energy and the Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust …There were only three concerts in 1991…. Today, fireworks close all 19 performances, and gawkers will line University Drive to see them. … Fort Worth’s Concerts in the Gardens has grown into one of the largest music festivals in North Texas.”
Posted July 16, 2010
