Ever since helping his father conduct a church choir when he was a teenager, Dr. Robert Lyall was inspired to dedicate his time and efforts towards the advancement of music and his community. While he was music faculty member at the University of Houston- Victoria until 1979, he founded the Victoria Symphony in 1974. He remained the symphony’s musical director for 16 years. Our current music director Darryl One, took on the role in 1995.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. One began his career in mathematics at Illinois State University and subsequently changed his major to music.  He received his undergraduate and masters degrees in composition and later attended Indiana University, completing a masters in conducting.  He participated in the Hans Swarowksy Conducting Competition in Vienna and was invited to attend Erich Leinsdorf’s Symposium for Young Conductors in Aspen, Colorado.  Mr. One has recorded a number of new American works for the American Symphony Orchestra League’s American Music Project with the Denver Symphony and the Oregon Symphony.  He was also one of four conductors invited to conduct the New World Symphony in Miami for the American Repertoire Project, a program designed to highlight young conductors in America.

Mr. One has almost doubled the number of concerts the orchestra performs during his tenure. With innovative combinations of thematic programming, staging, lighting, and concert formats, the orchestra has increased its audience while maintaining a high level of performance.  More importantly, Mr. One has raised the artistic level of the orchestra, making it one of the best orchestras in southern Texas. Many past members of the orchestra who began their orchestral careers with the VSO have gone on to careers with large regional and major orchestras. 

Thanks to Mr. One’s dedication and constant support from our community, the symphony has maintained its mission to enrich, entertain, educate, and inspire our community through symphonic concerts of the highest possible artistic quality.