Seattle Symphony Press Kit

Fact Sheet

Mission Statement
To present symphonic music of the highest quality in a distinctive way for the cultural enrichment, education, engagement and enjoyment of the people of our community.

Music Director
Gerard Schwarz, recently appointed to the NEA's National Council on the Arts, has been Music Director of theSeattle Symphony since 1985. Maestro Schwarz is assisted Carolyn Kuan, Associate Conductor, and Joseph Crnko, Associate Conductor for Choral Activities.

Musicians
The Orchestra consists of 91 full-time musicians, all of whom are members of the Seattle Symphony and Opera Players' Organization, a chapter of the International Guild of Symphony, Opera and Ballet Musicians.

Performances
In the 2008–2009 season, Seattle Symphony will present nearly 220 performances.

Performance Venue
The Orchestra performs in Benaroya Hall, which opened in September 1998 in downtown Seattle and is celebrating its 10th Anniversary during the 2008–2009 season. Seattle Symphony presents programs in the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium (capacity 2,500) and the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall (capacity 540). In July 2000, the Symphony debuted its Watjen Concert Organ in Benaroya Hall. Built by C.B. Fisk, Inc., the Watjen Concert Organ has 4,490 pipes and 83 stops.

Attendance
More than 315,000 people attend Seattle Symphony performances annually.

Budget Size
The operating budget for the 2008–2009 season is $22 million.

Recordings
The Seattle Symphony has recorded more than 100 compact discs, available on the Naxos, Delos, Koch, JVC Classics, Artek, MMC and Crystal labels.

Tours
In spring 2008, Seattle Symphony toured Southern California with renowned violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. In recent years, the Symphony has toured the East Coast and Florida. The Orchestra regularly tours Washington State.

Education and Community Programs
Seattle Symphony's education and community programs annually reach more than 90,000 people of all ages, including more than 35,000 students from elementary school through college.

Soundbridge
The Seattle Symphony opened Soundbridge Seattle Symphony Music Discovery Center in April 2001. Located in Benaroya Hall, Soundbridge is an interactive space dedicated to fostering love of symphonic music in people of all ages. Since opening, Soundbridge has served more than 100,000 visitors.

Recent Highlights
Seattle Symphony’s year-long Coming to America festival featured the first public performance of the Genesis Suite in 60 years, as well as an array of concerts throughout the season that celebrated the music of immigrant composers. The Orchestra received its second Emmy Award for its second self-produced TV special, Seattle Symphony From Benaroya Hall: Brahms, Kernis and Kodály. During the 2007–2008 season, Seattle Symphony continued co-presenting a successful new chamber series at one of Seattle’s most popular live music clubs, The Triple Door.