Dallas Symphony Orchestra Celebrates 125th Anniversary

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Celebration concert of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

News Summary

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a special concert season, featuring a range of musical performances that highlight its rich history. The season includes distinctive classical and pop concerts, as well as community engagement events through the 2025 Park Concert Series. With over 150 concerts each year under Music Director Fabio Luisi, the DSO aims to deliver an engaging musical experience while honoring its legacy, including collaborations and premieres throughout the season.

Dallas – The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO), the oldest symphony orchestra in Texas, is marking its 125th anniversary with an exciting concert season scheduled for 2025-26. As part of the celebration, the DSO will present a lineup that highlights significant musical moments, artists, and compositions from its history, beginning from its first concert by 40 musicians in 1900.

The upcoming concert season aims to honor the rich legacy of the DSO, which has been a key player in the Dallas cultural landscape for over a century. Michelle Miller Burns, the President & CEO of the DSO, expressed the organization’s enthusiasm about providing a special concert season for its audiences.

The DSO’s primary venue for performances is the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, where a selection of concerts will feature distinctive classical programs and inventive pop concerts. There is also an emphasis on engaging with the community through the 2025 Park Concert Series, which will host free outdoor concerts at various locations, including:

May 26: Memorial Day at Flag Pole Hill
June 6: Exall Park
June 7: Kidd Springs Park
June 10: Fretz Park
June 12: Paul Quinn College

Highlights at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center will include the Pops Series, the Texas Instruments Classical Series, and Movies-in-Concert, featuring live orchestra performances of iconic film scores. A notable feature of the season is the DSO’s collaboration with the Turtle Creek Chorale, which is also celebrating its 45th season in 2025.

Under the direction of the DSO’s internationally renowned Music Director Fabio Luisi, the orchestra presents over 150 concerts annually. As the largest performing arts organization in the Southwest, the DSO will continue to explore a diverse repertoire in its sixth season with Luisi at the helm, including deeper connections to Mahler’s music.

The season will kick off with a celebratory concert, already held on May 22, which featured conductor Ilan Volkov. The concert program celebrated notable works such as Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 performed by soloist Leonidas Kavakos, alongside Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony and Kyle Gann’s “Serenity Meditation”.

Concertgoers can look forward to world premieres and new commissions as part of the orchestra’s ongoing legacy. The Pops Series will include performances by Troupe Vertigo and a concert titled “Pops Through Time”, which will celebrate iconic scores and hit music. Additionally, the Movies-in-Concert series will feature beloved films such as Harry Potter, Home Alone, and Top Gun: Maverick.

As part of its milestone anniversary, the orchestra is also scheduled to embark on a West Coast tour in spring 2026, bringing its performances to various cities in California. This will further extend the DSO’s mission to share its music with a wider audience while celebrating its rich history and commitment to cultural excellence.

With an exciting lineup planned for this celebratory season, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra continues to reinforce its significant role in the arts community, providing Dallas residents and visitors with a vibrant and engaging musical experience.