Joseph Wincenc, Conductor
1946-1996
Our History
Dr. Joseph Wincenc founded the Amherst Symphony Orchestra in September 1946 as part of the Adult Education program of the Amherst Central School District.
At the start of the orchestra’s second season in 1948, the Eggertsville-Snyder Rotary Club undertook the financial sponsorship and business management of the group as one of its community service projects. They secured 400 patrons to contribute to the orchestra fund. In 1950, a group of 90 area citizens were invited to form a board of directors. The directors organized the Amherst Symphony Orchestra Association, Inc., a non-profit community enterprise. Its first president in 1950 was Loyal J. Murphy.
The Amherst Symphony Women’s Committee (now know as the Friends of the Amherst Symphony Orchestra, or FASO) was formed in 1952, with Mrs. Albert Olson as its first president.
Since its inception, the group has performed free concerts for the public. Wincenc—a leader in the Western New York musical community—conducted the group for 50 years, retiring in 1996.
Following Wincenc’s retirement, Steven Thomas conducted the orchestra from 1997 to 2013.
ASO WNY Heritage Magazine
The Summer 2020 issue of Western New York Heritage, featuring the 14 page article on the Amherst Symphony Orchestra (with one of the programs on the cover!), is no longer available in stores, but you can order your copy directly from Western New York Heritage. All proceeds support Western New York Heritage, which is a fellow non-profit cultural organization.
The Orchestra from the 1960’s
Concert Program from 1947