San Antonio Philharmonic to Make Historical Building its Home

A historic partnership that heralds a vibrant future for the Arts

By Deborah Martin, Staff Writer

San Antonio, Texas: On September 7th, the San Antonio Philharmonic declared its ambitious plans to make the Scottish Rite Cathedral downtown its permanent home. This potentially historic move aims at not only revitalizing a century-old architectural marvel but also paving way for an innovative partnership between two iconic entities in the city.

A Shared Vision for a Grand Revival

Robert Treviño, the executive director for the philharmonic, expressed his excitement about this shared vision. “This is about how these organizations can come together to serve this community really well”, he said. His enthusiasm was echoed by Robert Park, chairman of the San Antonio Scottish Rite Library and Museum, the nonprofit which owns the building. Built by the Freemasons, the building now primarily serves as the heart of the Scottish Rite fraternal organization.

“Our goal has always been to get that building back to what it should be used for, which is performing arts,” Park said. While the cathedral is currently rented out for various events, Park feels that it is not utilized to its full potential.

Moving Forward with the Plan

The Scottish Rite leadership is working on crafting a letter of intent that outlines this arrangement. The proposal is subject to approval by the board members of both organizations. The plan is to have the philharmonic and the Scottish Rite membership share the building as co-owners, with the philharmonic managing its operations. However, the realization of this project will entail a series of renovations to the aging building to make it accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A Bright Future for the Philharmonic and the Community

This plan not only makes organizational sense for the Philharmonic but also positions it for greater visibility and community engagement. “If I can almost draw parallel lines, as we are restoring this building, we’re helping to restore the vibrancy of arts and culture in our city,” expressed Treviño warmly. This move represents an important step in the continued growth and maturity of the Philharmonic, which was formed following the closure of the San Antonio Symphony in 2022.

Painting a Resplendent Picture for the Cathedral

The Scottish Rite Cathedral is a historic and architectural gem, standing tall in the heart of downtown San Antonio. It boasts ornate Italian marble floors, granite steps, and massive bronze doors crafted by master Italian-born sculptor, Pompeo Coppini. Coppini is also noted for his creation of the Cenotaph located on the grounds of the Alamo, another important symbol of the city’s rich history. This plan aims to breathe new life into the building and rescue it from years of underutilization, whilst restoring its original purpose – a hub for local culture and the arts.

The San Antonio Philharmonic is already off to a promising start for its third season, with an exciting program featuring guest violinist Nancy Zhou. As plans move forward, Treviño hopes to share a preview of the Scottish Rite Cathedral with the public by Spring. “This has got to be one of the finest buildings that most people have never seen because it’s never really been open to the community”, he said, expressing his enthusiasm for bringing this hidden treasure back into the public eye.