ABOUT
eSSO Santa Fe is an adult amateur orchestra of good friends who enjoy preparing and performing music together.
Though our beginning goes back to the summer of 2008, in many ways eSSO Santa Fe was re-born in its current form after the 2020-2021 pandemic that shut down so many performance organizations. Beginning with the first, post-Covid performance in
September 2021, eSSO Santa Fe began an ad-hoc, reciprocal relationship with post-graduate conducting students at the University of New Mexico.
eSSO Santa Fe’s performance repertoire continues to grow as a broader group of local musicians choose to perform with eSSO. There was a period immediately after group’s beginning as a string orchestra when eSSO was limited to string music of the Baroque like Telemann Overtures, Concerto Grossi by Handel, Geminiani, Corelli, Vivaldi and JS Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos as well as pre-Classical period symphonies and 20th Century works for string orchestra by Holst, Sibelius, Suk, and Elgar.
Post-Covid, eSSO’s repertoire has grown with the addition of winds and brass traditional in the Classical Era. eSSO is now focused primarily on repertoire from the Classical and immediate post-Classical period with performance repertoire including symphonies, overtures and concertos by Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Mendelssohn and others.
All concerts are part of the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe’s Friday TGIF series, 5:30 PM every Friday, which are free of charge to the audience. eSSO Santa Fe now plays at least four orchestral concerts each year, typically March, June, August and November. Additionally, the group often schedules holiday performances which allow groups within the orchestra to form, rehearse and perform their own chosen repertoire.
eSSO Thanks Bill Houston
eSSO was conducted by William (Bill) Houston III from December 2012 until March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down all orchestral activities. The orchestra gives thanks for his spirit, direction and significant contributions to our growth, both musically and literally, over his 8+ year tenure. eSSO Santa Fe’s current vitality is a reflection of, and built on, the foundation that Bill fostered with his leadership and love of music.
eSSO Promo Video