Jane Sibley
At a time when many symphonies around the country are struggling, the Austin Symphony Orchestra is hale and hearty, both financially and creatively, and Jane Sibley is one of the reasons why. This local arts patron and philanthropist has been an ardent, even fierce supporter of the symphony for decades, tirelessly taking on leadership positions – she currently chairs the board of directors – and creating new homes for the organization. In the Seventies, she was instrumental in the creation of Symphony Square, the complex of historic limestone buildings and an amphitheatre, and 20 years later she was among the first voices to call for the renovation of Palmer Auditorium into a performing arts center. Her generous donations to and participation in Arts Center Stage/Long Center, as well as ASO, have ensured that generations of Austinites to come will find their city to be a live music capital for symphonic works as well as every other kind of music.
This article appears in June 3 • 2005.