When the musicians of the San Antonio Philharmonic gathered on a recent night to rehearse Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the mood was celebratory.

The Philharmonic, which was formed after the demise in 2022 of the San Antonio Symphony, the city’s 83-year-old ensemble, had reason to be hopeful. The ensemble had found a new home inside an ornate Masonic temple; it had recruited a respected music director, Jeffrey Kahane; and it had unveiled an ambitious slate of programming, including a mix of contemporary and classical works.

“We’ve got a beautiful path forward,” said Lauren Eberhart, a veteran trumpet player. “I’m not buying into the doom and gloom.”

But as Beethoven’s music echoed through the Masonic temple’s auditorium, the challenges facing the Philharmonic were also present.

Staff turnover has hampered some of the Philharmonic’s priorities. Bitter disputes have erupted among board members and donors. And financial strains have forced the orchestra to make last-minute trims to its season.

The Philharmonic hopes to move beyond those troubles and show that San Antonio, with a population of about 1.5 million, can support a thriving orchestra. But it is attempting to do so at a difficult moment for American symphonies, which have long faced existential questions.