Our History
In 1949, Paul Franklin, High School Orchestra Director, started the Fort Dodge String Orchestra with around 20 musicians. In 1958, the officers and members of this organization voted to expand into a full orchestra, changing its name to the Fort Dodge Symphony.
In September 1963, members of the orchestra felt that there was a need for a supporting organization to promote grow and increase performance opportunities. These discussions led to the establishment of the Symphony Association comprised of businesses and engaged residents. Doyle Andrews was elected president and James Stroud, Professor at Iowa State University, was announced as the new conductor. This support group was in charge of the season memberships, concert promotion and other business matters. In 1980, the title was slightly altered to the Fort Dodge Area Symphony Orchestra which remains its title to this day.
In the early 1960s, Alice Hackett and other orchestra members became interested in inviting young musicians to perform as soloists with the orchestra and in March 1964, nineteen-year-old Steven Zehr appeared with the orchestra as its first young soloist. As a result plans were made to include a Young Artists Concert as part of the orchestra’s season with the first official concert held on January 22, 1966. Since then there have been 204 soloists featured on the annual Young Artists Concert.
In 1982 under association president Jeannette Miller the Young Artists Concerts Endowment came into existence with the purpose of providing perpetual funding to support this concert initiative.
Past Music Directors
1949 Paul Franklin, Fort Dodge High School Orchestra Director.
He started the Fort Dodge String Orchestra in 1949. It later became the Fort Dodge Symphony and later still, the Fort Dodge Area Symphony.
1962 Orlando Nickelson, Central Webster Community Schools
Orlando Nickelson was active in the Fort Dodge Men’s Civic Glee Club. His education included Lee College, Wichita State University and Drake University.
1963 James Stroud, Iowa State University
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, he began the studying cello at age 15. His education included Louisiana State University and Iowa State where he was professor of cello, chamber music and music history. His tenure included the first season that included season memberships and the establishment of the Board of Directors.
1965 Dr. Karl Holvik, University of Northern Iowa, Director of Bands
Dr. Holvik’s education included the Eastman School of Music and the University of Iowa. He also served as president of Iowa Bandmasters Association, Choral and Band Director’s National Association and the American Bandmaster Association.
1967 Frantisek Smetana, Iowa State University
Artist-in-residence and Assistant Conductor of the ISU University Orchestra, Frantisek was born in Ohnistay, Czechoslovakia. He made his solo debut at the age of 10, his first recording age of 14 and toured many countries in Europe as concert soloist.
1970 James Huffman, University of Northern Iowa, Director of Bands
James Huffman’s education included the Eastman School of Music, University of Iowa. He was also a President of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, Choral and Band Director’s National Association and the American Bandmaster Association.
1978 Ross Leeper, Eagle Grove Middle School Band Director
Ross Leeper’s bands performed at the UNI Tallcorn Festival, the Iowa Music Educators Association and the Iowa Bandmaster Association Convention. He was designated “Distinguished Bandmaster of America” in 1977 was selected as one of the ten most outstanding Music Directors in the United States.
1985 Laurence Burkhalter, Iowa State University
Head of the ISU Department of Music beginning in1966, conductor of the ISU Orchestra, Chairman of the String Division and Project Director of the Ames Festival Youth Symphony, Laurence Burkhalter was born in Mussoorie, U. P. India, held principal viola positions in the Columbus and Des Moines Symphonies and was a violist in the Ames Quartet. He was also Assistant Conductor of the Des Moines Symphony during their 1977-78 season.
1991 Kirk Smith, Iowa State University
Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Orchestra Activities
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Kirk Smith’s education included a Music Education/Performance Certificate in Clarinet from Shenandoah Conservatory, a Masters Degree in Conducting from the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver and he was a doctoral fellow at Ball State University.
1992 Daniel Kleinknecht
Daniel Kleinknecht holds degrees from Oberlin College, Indiana University and the University of Iowa. He has attended the Aspen Music Festival and is a Domaine Forget for Conductor Laureate. He has conducted the University of Iowa Opera Theater, the Center for New Music and has served as guest conductor for the Peoria Civic Opera, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Evansville Chamber Orchestra, Contemporary Ensemble at Duquesne University and Bradley University Orchestra.
1999 Dennis Root
Dennis Root served as conductor when Daniel Kleinknecht took a year’s leave of absence. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Iowa. While serving as the conductor of the Fort Dodge Area Symphony, he was also the Director of Secondary Orchestras for the Mason City High School and the Music Director of the North Iowa Symphony Orchestra in Mason City.
2001 Dimitar Nikolov, Waldorf College
Dimitar Nikolov holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the “L. Pipkev” School of Music (Sofia, Bulgaria), Master of Music in Piano Performance and Conducting from the State Academy of Music (Sofia, Bulgaria), Master of Arts, University of Northern Iowa and Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
2004 Eric McIntyre, Grinnell College
Dr. McIntyre is an alumnus of Indiana University, where he received B.M. and M.M. degrees in music performance and was awarded the prestigious Performer’s Certificate. He holds a D.M.A. in music composition from the University of Houston Moores School of Music. He currently serves as Music Director of the Central Iowa Symphony, Grinnell Symphony Orchestra and teaches composition, music history and theory at Grinnell College.
2012 Akira Mori, Drake University
Akira Mori was born in Warabi in the Saitama prefecture of Japan. He received his bachelor of music degree in flute performance at the New England Conservatory of Music. He then received a diploma in Orchestral Conducting from Wiener Meisterkurse in Vienna. He received a Masters Degree in Conducting from Indiana University. In the ensuing years, he guest conducted orchestras throughout the United States, Japan and Europe. Until his retirement in 2020, he was Assistant Professor of Music at Drake University and Conductor of the Drake Symphony Orchestra.