The Redlands Symphony Orchestra was founded by Edward C. Tritt in 1950 as the Redlands University-Community Symphony Orchestra. An adjunct of the University School of Music, the orchestra was conducted by Dr. Tritt from the first concert in the spring of 1951 until his retirement in 1975. Dr. Tritt was succeeded by professors Dr. Jack Wilson and James Jorgenson of the School of Music and, ultimately in 1982, by the present Music Director, Dr. Jon Robertson. The personnel of the orchestra has changed from an unpaid mix of faculty, students and townspeople to a professional ensemble enhanced by highly qualified music students from the University of Redlands School of Music.
Faculty members continue to hold most principal chairs.
In 1974 responsibility for managing the Symphony was transferred by the University to the Board of Directors of the Redlands Winter Concert Association, an organization which provided musical programs to complement the Redlands Bowl summer season. The Redlands Winter Concert Association was founded in 1958 and incorporated as a California non-profit corporation in 1983. The roots of the Redlands Winter Concert Association date back to the 1894 founding of the Spinet, California's oldest Federated Music Club. The Spinet began a concert series in 1905. The Redlands Winter Concert Association functioned as a community concert organization, booking four to six attractions each season, and selling season subscriptions.