Seattle Symphony history

Using his private fortune, in 1910 he began presenting operas at Covent Garden, Drury Lane, and other theatres.

Known from its founding as the Seattle Symphony, it was renamed in 1911 as the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1919, the orchestra was reorganized with new bylaws under the name Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra was revived in 1926 under the direction of Karl Krueger.

In 1947, the Seattle Symphony merged with the Tacoma Philharmonic to form the Pacific Northwest Symphony Orchestra.

The Seattle Orchestra, meanwhile, gave its first performance on November 23, 1948.

In 1954 Milton Katims began his 22-year tenure as Music Director, greatly expanding the Symphony's education programs.

The partnership system was eventually dissolved at the request of Milton Katims in 1955.

Seattle Symphony musicians began their long association with the Seattle Opera in 1973, serving as the orchestra for opera productions.

In 1980, the Seattle Symphony and Miedel embarked on their first European tour, always to standing ovations and critical acclaim.

Music Director Gerard Schwarz came to the Seattle Symphony as music advisor, in 1983.

In 1984, the Benaroya holdings were sold to Trammell Crow, the nation's largest commercial real estate developer in a joint venture with the California Public Employees Retirement System and the California Teachers Retirement System.

The following year he became Principal Conductor, and then Music Director, in 1985.

Becky and Jack Benaroya received a 1995 Seattle Symphony Individual Arts Award for their extraordinary commitment to the community.

In 1998 the Seattle Symphony inaugurated its new home, Benaroya Hall, noted for its architectural and acoustical splendor.

In June 2000, the symphony performed Igor Stravinsky's masterly neo-classic Oedipus Rex.

Hundreds of thousands of patrons have visited Soundbridge since its opening. It has long been a dream of Seattle Symphony leadership to have a dedicated space in Benaroya Hall to serve as a "learning center." That dream became a reality in April 2001 with the opening of Soundbridge Seattle Symphony Music Discovery Center in Benaroya Hall.

In May 2002, the symphony presented the Silk Road Project festival.

In March 2003, the symphony announced a new relationship with recording company Naxos of America, resulting in the release of 10 remastered Seattle Symphony recordings as part of Naxos' American Classics series.

In 2004, the American Symphony Orchestra League and ASCAP gave the Seattle Symphony the First Place Award for Programming of Contemporary Music.

In May 2005, the symphony presented the "Made in America Festival: Part 1," featuring the music of such American symphonists as Charles Ives, Aaron Copland, William Schuman, Virgil Thomson, Leonard Bernstein, and others who created a distinctive American symphonic tradition.

Ludovic Morlot first guest-conducted the Seattle Symphony in October 2009.

He returned in April 2010, as a substitute conductor in the wake of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruptions.

In 2011 Ludovic Morlot began his 8-year tenue as Music Director.

Thomas Dausgaard first guest-conducted the orchestra in 2013.

Together Morlot and the orchestra achieved international acclaim, winning five Grammy awards and Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year award.

In 2019 the orchestra renovated and reopened the space as Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, an immersive environment for inventive performances, education opportunities and community engagement.