Sigale didn\u2019t hesitate to join, he recalled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a chance for me to have that outlet of chamber music, so I was excited about that,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Decades later, Sigale continues to be an integral part of the ensemble, leading the group as its executive director since 2017. As he prepares Spectrum for its latest series of fall concerts, he\u2019s excited for the musicians to play their notes during a major milestone \u2014 the ensemble\u2019s 40th season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a group of musicians and classical music fans to be able to sustain an organization and grow is something that is very satisfying and very gratifying to us,\u201d Sigale said.<\/p>\n
Reimagining concerts for smaller ensembles<\/strong><\/p>\n Spectrum Chamber Music Society was founded in 1986 by six members of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra who wanted to perform arrangements written for smaller ensembles. Violist Dave Hermann led the group for nearly 30 years until he stepped down in 2016.\u00a0<\/p>\n The ensemble launched its first season of concerts at All Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist in far east Fort Worth with two violinists, two violists and two cellists. The church has served as the group\u2019s home base since then.\u00a0<\/p>\n The COVID-19 pandemic brought its challenges but also allowed the ensemble to not only adapt but grow. The livestream-only concerts performed at its home church allowed Spectrum to expand its reach virtually and to officially become a nonprofit in 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n Under Sigale\u2019s leadership, Spectrum has divided itself into four branches:\u00a0<\/p>\n Spectrum has grown its scope to feature more instruments, including bass and percussion, with over 40 volunteer musicians. Amid the ensemble\u2019s expansion, Spectrum still struggles with name recognition across Fort Worth, Sigale said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are still, in many ways after 40 years, under the radar,\u201d he said. \u201cWe decided to blow things up \u2014 and hopefully in a good way \u2014 to not only sustain the concert series but for us to branch out more into the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Upcoming season promises to be \u201ceclectic\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Typically, musical directors or conductors have the final say on what\u2019s played at concerts.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not the case with Spectrum.<\/p>\n As audience members prepare to take their seats for the upcoming 2025-26 season, Spectrum is rehearsing a broad selection of numbers to keep listeners engaged, said William Clay, director of Spectrum Connects.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 2025-26 concerts will feature well-known symphonic music and lesser-known tunes with some selections that will surprise the ensemble as much as the audience, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The ensemble\u2019s upcoming season will feature performances at Stage West Theatre near downtown, Rose Marine Theater in Northside and the Jane & John Justin Foundation Omni Theater at Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOne thing that is exciting about outsourcing is most of our concerts don\u2019t have a theme and are extremely eclectic,\u201d Clay said. \u201cI am impressed with what our organization is capable of doing that almost seems magical.\u201d<\/p>\n Interested in attending a Spectrum Chamber Music Society concert?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n The ensemble\u2019s 2025-26 season kicks off Sept. 2 and ends May 18. The season is broken up into different series: Community Engagement Series and Main Concert Series. For more information, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n As Sigale plans for the upcoming season and beyond, the Spectrum leader is optimistic the ensemble will continue to reach new venues and communities that haven\u2019t been exposed to classical music before.<\/p>\n And when a new musician joins Spectrum, Sigale said, the group\u2019s members will embrace their musicality just as the ensemble did with him all those years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n David Moreno is the arts and culture reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/spec_002.png\")
The original six members of Spectrum Chamber Music Society pose for a photo in 1986. (Courtesy photo | Spectrum Chamber Music Society)<\/p>\n\n
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Members of Spectrum Chamber Music Society perform songs from \u201cPeter and the Wolf\u201d in April at an after-school program at LVT Rise, a nonprofit in west Fort Worth. (Courtesy photo | Spectrum Chamber Music Society)<\/p>\n
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