Our mission as Pride of the Prairie Orchestra is to provide a rehearsal and performance group for area musicians and to provide live classical orchestra concerts for area audiences. The orchestra will provide performers and audience with cultural outlets that would otherwise be unavailable.

The Pride of the Prairie Orchestra starts the 2010-2011 season on Monday, Sept. 13th, 2010. Past member musicians and new members are encouraged to meet in the Colby Community College Band Room at 7:00 p.m. for a half-hour introductory meeting. Rehearsal will then run from 7:30 – 9 p.m. All Mondays following will commence at the usual 7:30 p.m. start time. New musicians are not required to audition and anyone having questions about the Orchestra may email Mary Shoaff, President, at  comments@prairieorchestra.com.

The orchestra was organized in 1986 under the direction of Bill Beck, a retired school music director. It was, and is composed of volunteer musicians, ranging from school age to retired individuals. Musicians travel to Colby from a wide geographical area representing communities in northwest Kansas and northeast Colorado . The majority of the musicians come from Thomas County . Every Monday evening from September through April, 40-50 musicians gather to rehearse. At least three concerts, and often four, are performed each year. Since area schools don’t offer an orchestra program, this has met a need for students as well as adults who play a stringed instrument. It offers a cultural outlet for musicians as well as audiences in the area and adds and element of culture that is often lacking in small communities.

POP Orchestra wishes to thank the Community Orchestra Fund at the Thomas County Community Foundation for their gracious gift.  Our website is made possible through this gift.  The Thomas County Community Foundation gift was made in recognition of Jan Wolf and Sharon Steele, musician members since the inception of the orchestra.  We gratefully acknowledge their legacy and contribution to the orchestra over these past 27 years.

The Pride of the Prairie Orchestra is supported in part by Kansas Arts Commission.