Violinist helped organize, elevate Conroe symphony
Mary Curtis Taylor, a visionary and talented violinist who is credited with promoting the Conroe Symphony Orchestra, died earlier this month. She was 84.
Taylor began playing violin at age 6 in her native Kentucky.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in music and master’s in education from Murray State University, she earned a master’s of library science from Vanderbilt University.
Taylor performed with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Baroque Orchestra, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Symphony Orchestra and Owensboro Symphony.
She also played alongside some of the greats in music, including Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Betty Grable, Van Cliburn, Duke
Ellington and Itzhak Perlman, touring two weeks each with Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck and Isaac Hayes.
Her husband, John, took a job with Conroe ISD that brought them to the area, where Taylor joined several symphonies in Texas and Louisiana.
She then turned her musical passion to the students of the area and developed the district’s strings program. The effort began with an after-school program for fifth and sixth graders; then, Taylor eventually expanded the program to include middle school and high school students.
About 20 years ago, Taylor moved on to her next mission — organizing the Conroe symphony under the direction of Herb Armentrout.
“I had been a symphony musician all my life, and I thought we needed to give this to the community,” Taylor said in a previous interview. “Conroe is a great city, with country music and barbecue, but I thought we needed another avenue for music here — the symphony.”
Her wish was to one day see the symphony move into its own performance hall.
In 2016, the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance presented her with the 2016 Visionary Award for her ongoing efforts to elevate the Conroe Symphony Orchestra.
“Mary Curtis Taylor was a total visionary in every sense of the word,” said Annette Spikes, president of the Greater Conroe Arts. “She was an inspired leader with an eye on the future. She was inventive and creative — and had the imagination and follow-through to accomplish great tasks.”
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Mary Curtis Taylor’s name may be directed to the Conroe Symphony Orchestra, 1500 N. Frazier St., Conroe, TX 77301.
She will be buried in her native Kentucky.
The Conroe Symphony Orchestra will have a special tribute to Taylor during its Oct. 9 season-opening performance.