Idaho Falls Symphony Music Director Announces Departure

Dr. Thomas Heuser has announced that the upcoming 2025-2026 season will be his 15th and final season as Music Director of the Idaho Falls Symphony.

“The Idaho Falls Symphony has been my musical family for well over a decade,” said Dr. Heuser, “and this community has shaped me as a person and as a musician. At every level of my involvement as music director, from conducting our musicians to teaching our students and connecting with friends and audiences, I have been incredibly fortunate to have the love and support of so many talented, dedicated, and wonderful people. The Idaho Falls Symphony will continue to be a source of inspiration in my life, and as the next chapter in this organization’s storied history unfolds, I will be watching fondly and with an unbridled sense of pride. As I turn my energies towards new professional endeavors, the lessons learned here will stay with me, and over the course of Season 76, my final season, we will continue to push the envelope, pursuing musical excellence at every turn and following our mission to the letter. I simply cannot fully express how grateful I am for these 15 seasons together; thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The Idaho Falls Symphony will be hard at work for the next two seasons conducting a search that will culminate in a new Music Director starting in the 2027-2028 season. “Thomas is leaving big shoes to fill,” said board president, Kim Carpenter. “His impact and legacy will long be felt in our orchestra and our community.”

The selection of Dr. Heuser to lead the artistic vision of the orchestra came at a significant point in the history of the Idaho Falls Symphony. Founded in 1949, the Idaho Falls Symphony had largely been a volunteer, community orchestra. During Heuser's tenure, his artistic vision lifted the orchestra to new and greater levels of professionalism and experience.

“Our musical community has been elevated through the artistic vision, skill and expertise Thomas has brought over his dedicated tenure at the Idaho Falls Symphony,” said executive director Carrie Athay. “When Thomas steps on the podium, he guides us on magnificent musical journeys. We are very fortunate to share one more season with him.”

There are countless stories of Heuser’s involvement with the community that serve as a testament to his commitment to connecting with Idaho Falls and the surrounding region. He has been a regular presence in elementary schools and Universities, as well as a great support for the Idaho Falls Symphony Youth Orchestra program. Heuser also has provided continuing education for adults with his pre-concert talks and lectures to civic groups like the Rotary Club, Friends for Learning, and many others. He helped to launch outreach concerts in Driggs, Idaho, and curated a “Double Orchestra” concert with his colleagues at the Idaho State Civic Symphony in Pocatello.

Heuser currently serves as Music Director of the Idaho Falls Symphony and the San Juan Symphony. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for Orchestral Conducting in Germany and was a Conducting Fellow with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He holds a BA in Music from Vassar College, an MM in Conducting from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, and a DMA in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).