The New Mexico Philharmonic was incorporated by musicians of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (NMSO) as a non-profit organization on October 21, 2009, when the possible closing of the financially troubled NMSO was recognized. The New Mexico Philharmonic was dormant as an organization until May 2011 after the NMSO declared bankruptcy. Following the bankruptcy, community members not affiliated with NMSO joined NMPhil’s board of directors and began fundraising.
By fall 2011, NMPhil successfully raised over $100,000 to purchase the key assets of the NMSO to begin operations, hired an executive director, retained and acknowledged the tenure of NMSO musicians and began performing its first season.