Ted Russell (musician)

Theodore "Ted" Caskey Russell was an American conductor and violinist who helped form Mississippi's first symphony orchestra the original Jackson Symphony Orchestra (JSO) during the 1940s.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] Russell conducted 50 Jackson musicians in their premier concert on Thursday, October, 19, 1944, in the Victory Room of the Heidelberg Hotel.^[5]^[6] His education included a B.S. degree from Missouri Teacher's College, a M.M. from Northwestern University, and training with Georges Enesco in Paris, and Joseph Szigetti in Switzerland. ^[7]

↑ Music Clubs Magazine - Volumes 52-53 - Page 28 1972 "They chose Theodore Russell as the first conductor who set about the formidable task of recruiting enough players for a symphony orchestra. It was a difficult job. The year was 1944, the budget was slim — and many of the city's musicians were away at war."
↑ John Howard Men Like That: A Southern Queer History 0226354709-2001 Page 166 "Theodore Russell had helped form Mississippi's first symphony orchestra over two decades prior in 1944. Under his direction, the orchestra "really grew and matured" over the years, as a founding violinist, Delia Janacek, remembers. ...Soon Ted Russell would move the orchestra into a new home, to be constructed at the site of the old Trailways bus station, on Pascagoula Street at Lamar.138 Russell well trained his musicians, who early on were all volunteer." ..."By the 1950s, in addition to a full season of performances, the Jackson Symphony Orchestra (JSO) offered children's concerts in the schools, special concerts for black audiences, as well as numerous run-out concerts — road shows at towns"
↑ "Jul 16, 1944, page 14 - Clarion-Ledger at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com". www.newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-01-16. Jacksonians will have an opportunity this fall to listen to and take part in a civic symphony which has been organized under the sponsorship of interested local businessmen and will function under the baton of Theodore Russell.
↑ "Oct 11, 1944, page 14 - Clarion-Ledger at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
↑ "Oct 23, 1944, page 6 - Enterprise-Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
↑ "Oct 15, 1944, page 3 - Clarion-Ledger at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-01-16. Theodore Caskey Russell, who will conduct the Jackson Symphony Orchestra in its premiere concert Thursday evening of this week, is also well- [sic] throughout the South as a virtuoso of the violin.
↑ "Nov 03, 1944, page 10 - Clarion-Ledger at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com". www.newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-01-16.

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