The Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s commitment to meaningful musical experiences is the heart of its past, present, and future. The MSO is an integral part of the cultural, educational, and economic life of the Bluff City and has been since 1952.
Get into the Past
Best known as the birthplace of blues and rock ‘n roll, Memphis also boasts a rich heritage of symphonic and classical music. In the earliest days of the Bluff City, new settlers to the rough, raw, river town brought their musical traditions along. It was common for ladies to learn to play the piano, and many gentlemen enjoyed playing the fiddle. As Memphians, these amateur musicians and their patrons promoted their passion through such groups as The Casino Club, the Philharmonic Society, and later, the Beethoven Club.
In the spirit of those musical pioneers, twenty-one musicians formed the Memphis Sinfonietta and performed their first concert at the Goodwyn Institute in January 1953. When audiences swelled past capacity, the Sinfonietta moved to downtown’s Ellis Auditorium -- later renamed in honor of the founding conductor and music director, Vincent de Frank. By 1960 the Sinfonietta matured into the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, operating as it does to this day, under the organizational leadership of the Memphis Orchestral Society, Inc.
The MOS is directed by a board of community, business, music, and civic leaders. The MSO has only had three Music Director/Conductors. Alan Balter replaced Maestro de Frank on the podium as music director and conductor in 1984. Less than a year after Balter retired in 1998 Maestro David Loebel joined the symphony. The 2008-2009 season will be Loebel’s last with the symphony as and during the 2009-2010 season we are involved in a search for our new music director. The MSO moved into Eudora Baptist Church while the de Frank Music Hall underwent a multi-million dollar transformation into a world-class concert venue. The work took six years. In January 2003 the orchestra came home to the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, one of the nation’s best acoustical facilities for live orchestral music.
Get into the Family
The MSO’s immediate family extends beyond the staff, the conductor, the 36 core musicians, and the dozens of per service or extra musicians. The Memphis Symphony Chorus began in 1965 as a group of thirty singers, directed by Maestro de Frank and rehearsed by Sarah Beth Causey. The Chorus sings with the orchestra at special concerts on pieces ranging from popular Christmas tunes to ancient requiems. Today’s Chorus is made up of 100 volunteer vocalists who perform under the direction of Maestro Loebel with Dr. Lawrence Edwards as artistic director. In 1966 the symphony created the Memphis Youth Symphony (MYS) which continues to serve over 250 musicians each year as an independent organization. From 1995 until 2007 Vincent Danner, who served the MSO as associate conductor, also served as conductor of the MYS. In 2008-2009 James Feddeck, a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan, became the symphony’s first assistant conductor. This internship position fulfills a promise to “pay it forward” that Maestro Loebel made to himself to help young conductors gain experience in music and operations.
Behind every talented musician and memorable performance is the Memphis Symphony League, which has sponsored the MSO and its programs since 1958. The League’s achievements in fundraising, ticket sales, promotions, and community education programs earned it a reputation as one of the nation’s most successful symphony orchestra support groups, and the education programs it has developed for use in public schools have won national awards for excellence.
Get into the Community
In Memphis, music matters. Each year the MSO generates about $10.2 million for the local economy and creates 135 jobs. Operating with a $4.1 million budget, the 550-member MSO family brings symphonic music to more than half a million people annually, whether they tune in on the radio or television or attend a live performance. MSO works hand-in-hand with artistic organizations such as Stax Music Academy, Playhouse on the Square, Opera Memphis, Ballet Memphis, the Brooks Museum, and The Cultural Development Foundation of Memphis to push the limits of artistic invention and wow concert-goers with unique entertainment. Such bold programming has garnered national attention and awards in recent years.The MSO believes strongly in its responsibility to engage with the community.
The American Symphony Orchestra League reports that the MSO is a national leader in providing free community service concerts -- and music education in the Mid-South owes much of its talent and resources to the Symphony. In addition to presenting dozens of educational concerts and events each year, the musicians of the MSO reach thousands of young music students by giving private lessons, visiting public and private elementary and secondary schools, and teaching courses at institutions such as Rhodes College, the University of Memphis, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Mississippi.
When they are not enchanting audiences with their musical gifts, the individual members of the MSO give their free time to fill such diverse and meaningful roles as a recreational softball referee, Special Olympics volunteer, academic tutor in the Memphis City Schools, and religious school teacher.
Get into the Future
MSO is taking community engagement to a level that has never been conceived of by an American orchestra. The Memphis Symphony forged partnerships with Soulsville and Federal Express to engage the community in mutually beneficial activities beginning with receptions, mentoring, and work presentations. Recognizing the opportunities for replicating the program in other orchestras, the Mellon Foundation awarded the symphony one of its four grants to ensure the future of American orchestras.The Memphis Symphony Orchestra family enriches the cultural appeal of the city, making Memphis a place where it is truly possible for everyone to “get into the music.”