In the 1980’s Anna Martin, a local strings teacher, organized her more accomplished students into a string ensemble called “Carolina Silver Strings.” This group of around 15 students  performed at several locations within the county, thriving and growing until she moved away.

Not wanting this core group to be without a learning/performance outlet, and also desiring to expand it to include other instruments, the Lamar String field Music Club voted in 1988 to establish and to sponsor a new organization initially called “The Little Symphony of Rutherford County.” The music club hired its first conductor, Henry Hampton, of Spartanburg, S.C. Under his direction, the organization expanded to become a multi-generational orchestra with an open-door policy that encouraged people of all ages, and ethnic backgrounds to become members.

In 1990, officers of the Lamar Stringfield Music Club applied for and were granted 501 (c) (3) status for “The Little Symphony of Rutherford County” to become an entity unto itself with its own board of directors, a set of by-laws, and its mission: ”To serve the community through music and music education.” Within two years the group grew to the extent that in 2000 its directors applied for and was granted permission to drop the word “Little” from its name , thus becoming “The Symphony of Rutherford County.”