After a season filled with Bach, Bruch, and a good old-fashioned hoedown, the Longmont Symphony Orchestra is closing things out the cowboy way. On May 17, the company will host its end-of-season Western Gala at The St. Vrain, offering a chance to raise a glass to everything the orchestra has accomplished this year — and meet a few faces from behind the orchestral scenes. Boots encouraged.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the evening includes a catered dinner, live music from the Tribonacci Trio, dancing on the open floor, and both silent and live auctions. It’s also a chance for guests to meet the people who make the music happen, including Maestro Elliot Moore and Executive Director Sara Parkinson, who officially joined the orchestra on April 1.

“The theme really came out of our final Pops concert this past weekend,” Parkinson said. “It had this Western hoedown spirit running through it, and that kind of Americana energy carried over perfectly.”

That same spirit carried through the orchestra’s 2024—25 season, titled “Sound in Motion.” Over the past year, the Longmont Symphony performed everything from Gershwin’s Piano Concerto and The Nutcracker to Peter and the Wolf and Bach’s B Minor Mass. The organization partnered with the Boulder Chorale, brought its first masterworks program to Frederick, and continued its shift from a volunteer ensemble to a paid, semi-professional orchestra.

“I think the momentum and the positive growth this organization has seen over the course of the last 18 months or more is something that’s exciting for us to celebrate together,” Parkinson said. “We’ve moved from a community orchestra, all volunteer, to semi-professional, where everyone’s paid. And we’re still working toward fully professional.”

Parkinson brings years of experience to the role. She previously served as Executive Director of the Boulder Philharmonic during the pandemic, then took a two-year break from administrative work. “Coming into this role, I feel renewed and refreshed,” she said. “I’ve gained so much perspective from my past experience, and I think bringing my energy to Longmont intrigued me. I’m excited to be here.”

As for the gala itself, Parkinson said it’s more than a night of fundraising. “It’s a joyful evening of connection, music, and community,” she said. “For me, it’s a chance to meet more people and for the community to connect with me, with Elliot, and with the music we’re building together.”

Western attire is encouraged, whether that means a shiny belt buckle or a dusty bolo tie pulled from the back of the closet. Either way, it’s a chance to gather, celebrate a year of momentum, and two-step into whatever comes next for LSO.