The mission of the Yavapai Symphony Association is to provide high-quality classical music performances for and to develop, promote, and enhance classical musical appreciation in Yavapai County.

The Association will achieve the Mission by

• Contracting annually with professional classical music performers, chamber orchestra, and symphonys for seven or more concerts.
• Creating exposure of classical musicians and artists to school music programs through the Association’s Youth Committee.
• Developing revenue streams in support of music scholarships for the advancement of classical music appreciation and talent development for young musicians.
• Continuously reviewing ways to expand classical music appreciation and understanding among all segments of the Yavapai County communities.

Statement on Cultural Equity

To support a full creative life for all, the Yavapai Symphony Association commits to championing policies
and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive, equitable nation.

Cultural equity embodies the values, policies, and practices that ensure that all people—
including but not limited to those who have been historically underrepresented based on
race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic
status, geography, citizenship status, or religion—are represented in the development of arts
policy; the support of artists; the nurturing of accessible, thriving venues for expression; and the
fair distribution of programmatic, financial, and informational resources.

A Historic Account of the Association

Entering our 56th season, the Yavapai Symphony Association was formed in 1966 by a group of community leaders committed to bringing classical music concerts to Prescott.

This followed the lead of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women who brought the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra to Prescott for a concert in 1964.

The Founding Officers & Board of 1966

• • Mrs. Mary Brooke (founding President)
  • Ted W. Liese (founding Vice President)
  • Mrs. Lester Ward Ruffner (founding Secretary)
  • Mrs. Harold J. Wolfinger (founding Treasurer)
  • Mrs. Frederic B. James
  • Raymond Henderson
  • Mrs. Harold James
  • Mrs. Charles Orme
  • Mrs. Thomas Zabriskie
  • Mrs. Harriet T. Whitehouse
  • Charles E. Weltzheimer
  • Mrs. James J. Coughlin

The initial purpose of the association was to sponsor, provide and promote musical concerts and programs, and cultural activities and events of every character intended to enrich both individual and community life and enjoyment, primarily for the citizens of Yavapai County.

The First Concert in 1964

The first concert in 1964 was held in the Hendrix Auditorium of Prescott High School (now, Prescott Mile High Middle School). The auditorium served as home for the concerts until 1992 when the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center was completed.

The first concert to open the new center in 1992 was the Phoenix Symphony presented by the Yavapai Symphony Association.  In 1993 YSA partnered with the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center in the purchase of the center’s 1st concert grand piano.  YSA provided $40,000 for the purchase.  In 2011 YSA donated $3,000 to Yavapai College in support of refurbishment to the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center.