City Symphony Orchestra of New York.

In 1927, Leopold Prince, a municipal court judge of New York, established the City Amateur Symphony of New York.

(After 1953, it was referred to as simply the City Symphony Orchestra of New York.) The orchestra quickly grew to include between 80 and 100 musicians, the vast majority of whom were amateurs. Leopold Prince, a violinist himself, conducted the orchestra in its first twenty-five years of existence, until his death in 1951. The former assistant conductor, Franz Bibo, succeeded Prince as the new conductor. The City Symphony Orchestra of New York catered to audiences who could not afford entrance fees at typical venues, and frequently gave free concerts at New York hospitals, parks, and museums. The orchestra existed without any monetary support from the city or state of New York, surviving solely on the philanthropy of individuals. It remains unclear of what became of the City Symphony Orchestra of New York after the late 1960s. Beginning in the 1940s, several groups began operating under the title of the New York City Symphony, and to complicate matters, the City Symphony Orchestra of New York was often casually referred to as the New York City Symphony.

From the description of City Symphony Orchestra of New York records, 1927-1971. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122570219

In 1927, Leopold Prince, a Municipal Court Judge of New York, established the City Amateur Symphony Orchestra of New York (After 1953 it was referred to as simply the City Symphony Orchestra of New York). The orchestra quickly grew to include between 80 and 110 musicians, the vast majority of whom were amateurs. Leopold Prince, a violinist himself, conducted the orchestra in its first twenty-five years of existence, until his death in 1951. The former assistant conductor, Franz Bibo, succeeded Prince as the new conductor. The City Symphony Orchestra of New York catered to audiences who could not afford entrance fees at typical venues, and frequently gave free concerts at New York hospitals, parks, and museums. Typically, in the 1950s, the orchestra would perform six concerts at the American Museum of Natural History in the winter, and four summer concerts held on the mall of Central Park. The free concerts were generally well attended, with the summer concerts drawing crowds between 5,000 and 20,000 a performance. The orchestra would also perform at benefit concerts throughout the city in an effort to raise money for charitable organizations.

The City Symphony Orchestra existed without any monetary support from the city or state of New York. They survived solely on the philanthropy of individuals. For the first few years, Judge Leopold Prince personally bore all of the expense for the operations of the orchestra. From the beginning of the 1930s until 1951, funds were raised primarily through benefit dinners. Upon Leopold Prince’s death in 1951, the orchestra lost their principal fundraiser and consequently, the orchestra created a Board of Directors whose primary responsible focused on fundraising. The Board of Directors and specifically, the Finance Committee solicited donations from friends, community members, and philanthropic organizations. In 1956, the orchestra incorporated as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization.

It remains unclear what became of the City Symphony Orchestra of New York after the late 1960s. Beginning in the 1940s, several groups began operating under the title of the New York City Symphony and to complicate matters the City Symphony Orchestra of New York was often casually referred to as the New York City Symphony.

From the guide to the City Symphony Orchestra of New York records, 1927-1971, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)