History
The Seattle Symphony, a vital part of the Pacific Northwest cultural scene, is recognized for its extraordinary performances, programming, recordings and community engagement. With a dedicated subscriber base of more than 26,000 patrons, the Symphony performs or presents nearly 220 performances annually to an audience of more than 315,000 people. In both 2007 and 2008, the Seattle Symphony won Emmy Awards for its first two self-produced television specials, Seattle Symphony From Benaroya Hall, and Seattle Symphony From Benaroya Hall: Brahms, Kernis and Kodály.
From its first performance on December 29, 1903, the Seattle Symphony has held a unique place in the world of symphonic music. During its formative years, it was the charismatic Sir Thomas Beecham who most developed the Orchestra's skill and reputation. In 1954, Milton Katims began his 22-year tenure as Music Director, greatly expanding the Symphony's education programs. Rainer Miedél, Music Director from 1976 until his death in 1983, led the Orchestra on its first European tour in 1980.
Following Gerard Schwarz's appointment as Music Director in 1985, the Symphony experienced an era of unprecedented artistic growth, with a reputation for innovative and adventurous programming and recording. The Orchestra has made more than 140 recordings and garnered 12 Grammy nominations. The Orchestra has given nearly 100 premieres since 1983, including commissions by 18 major American composers in celebration of Schwarz’s Farewell Season as Music Director in 2010–2011. Both in live performance and on recordings, Seattle Symphony has devoted itself to presenting often-neglected masterpieces by mid-20th century composers, whose music is once again establishing itself in the hearts of American concertgoers. Many of these works can now be heard on re-mastered recordings recently issued on the Naxos label. The Orchestra is now under the artistic leadership of Ludovic Morlot, one of the leading conductors of his generation.
In 1998, Seattle Symphony inaugurated its downtown home, Benaroya Hall, noted for its architectural and acoustical splendor. Three years later, the Orchestra opened Soundbridge Seattle Symphony Music Discovery Center, where people of all ages explore the world of symphonic music through exhibits, classes and live music presentations. The Symphony’s education programs, alongside its nationally recognized community engagement programs, bring classical music to nearly 100,000 people of all ages each year, including students at more than 200 schools in the Pacific Northwest.