(Seguin) — Improving the lives of others through music was always the mindset for Anita Windecker, a longtime professor at TLU and one of the founders of the Mid-Texas Symphony.
Windecker, professor of emerita of music at Texas Lutheran University, died Saturday.
Windecker, a professor of piano, is being remembered today for not only leading the communities of Seguin, New Braunfels and TLU through music but also for leaving behind a legacy that continues to grow.
Jason Irle, the executive director of the Mid-Texas Symphony, says Windecker’s vision of ensuring music for future generations started very early — eventually leading to the creation of the area’s only professional orchestra.
“It was very unlikely at the time back in 1978 that the communities of Seguin and New Braunfels could support an orchestra but she saw past that barrier. She saw that the communities here were going to be very fruitful in terms of people and resources that eventually a full professional symphony orchestra would be able to thrive and sustain itself and serve the community with these rich cultural opportunities and concerts that would then increase the quality of life and elevate the status of our region across the country. So, I would say that it was her vision in that regard that got the whole process started,” said Irle.
Not only did she generate the idea but Irle says Windecker spent years building the foundation necessary to support the organization that exist today.
“She was an integral part of the leadership of the Mid-Texas Symphony. So from 1978 to the year 2000, she was a board member and she was predominantly involved in all of the leadership of the organization — the founding and now, fast forward another 14 years from there, the organization has grown tremendously. It went from all board members running every single facet of the organization. She had everything methodically organized and put together in a process where volunteers could manage the entire operations of the symphony orchestra. It wasn’t until 2009, where the Mid-Texas Symphony took on its first part-time executive director and since then, we’ve grown to one full-time executive director we are on the verge of adding a second full time staff member to the organization. The organization as a whole has grown tremendously and is more reflective of the growth of the community,” said Irle.
Tracy Donley, of Texas Lutheran University, says Windecker’s legacy in music, however, started almost two decades earlier when she helped establish her music role at the college campus.
“She holds the record as TLU’s longest serving faculty member with 50 years under her belt. She retired in 2000. At the time, she was the head of the music department. So, she joined the faculty at TLU in 1950,” said Donley.
Not only is Windecker credited for establishing the Mid-Texas Symphony but Donley says the community can also thank her for Jackson Auditorium.
“Jackson Auditorium probably wouldn’t be here without Anita Windecker. As part of the faculty at TLU she used to bring it up every year at the big faculty meeting, ‘We need an auditorium.’ And then finally, she was instrumental in bringing Jackson Auditorium. She had founded the Mid-Texas Symphony and Jackson Auditorium was to serve as the home of the symphony but also for use by TLU and the music department here. So, in September of 1986, Jackson Auditorium opened and it was really a great tribute to all of the work she did in bringing it to us,” said Donley.
Donley says TLU will forever be grateful for Windecker’s talents and persistence in helping to improve the community through music. She says TLU has always known that they had something special.
“She was a prodigy. She debuted at Carnegie Hall in 1953 and there was a standing ovation and called for an encore and she was asked to go on like a big tour but she wanted to come home to Texas and work at TLU instead. She never married and very interesting character,” said Donley.
Donley says Windecker’s contributions over the years have already come full circle for those with a similar passion in music.
“The Anita Windecker Endowed Chair was established in her honor. Dr. Eliza Jeffords who is currently the director of strings at TLU is the first person to hold that chair and she is also a member of the Mid-Texas Symphony so it’s kind of neat how it circles back around to the symphony which was founded by Ms. Windecker,” said Donley.
Funeral services for Windecker are scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at TLU’s Chapel of the Abiding Presence.
Windecker was 95.
