2025: The State of the Orchestra

SLSO President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard looks forward to the exciting year ahead.

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and heartfelt support for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Your dedication fuels our mission and inspires our commitment to the vibrant St. Louis region. As we near completion of the renovation and expansion of Powell Hall—a landmark moment in our 145-year history—we are deeply grateful to all who have supported this ambitious endeavor. We look forward to welcoming you to your expanded music center this September.

We have been energized by the enthusiasm of our audiences as we’ve performed throughout the region these past two seasons. Your joyful reactions to the music, flexibility during this transition, and shared passion have meant the world to us. We are delighted to have welcomed a growing audience—with approximately 40 percent new ticket buyers—and served more than 500,000 students and teachers during this time. Over the next months, we look forward to sharing a wide array of musical experiences, including:

This programming channels our vision to showcase various facets of the symphonic art form and to shape deeper engagement with our community. 

Looking ahead to next season, we eagerly anticipate welcoming all to the new Jack C. Taylor Music Center—named in honor of the late SLSO patron, philanthropist, and champion of St. Louis. The center will unify new and renovated spaces to create a global music destination with state-of-the-art technological capabilities. At the heart of this project is the revitalized Powell Hall and the transformation of the audience and artist experience. Along with new amenities, we have preserved and enhanced the internationally recognized acoustics and aesthetics of our beloved concert hall.

To realize this vision of a music center where our community can deepen their connections through music with expanded programming, learning, and educational initiatives, more than 98 percent of our $155 million campaign goal has been raised to date. With $140 million funding the center and $15 million directed to the SLSO’s endowment, we have been truly heartened by the immense generosity and confidence shown by our community.

Please save the dates for the opening of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center. A ribbon cutting ceremony and orchestra performance for the community on September 19 will be followed by the grand opening gala on September 20. The first concerts of the 146th season will be the weekend of September 26–28. More details about these and other season-opening events will be coming soon.

Look for the announcement of the 2025/2026 season on February 11. Led by The Joseph and Emily Rauh Pulitzer Music Director Stéphane Denève, our team has planned a celebratory season featuring both beloved symphonic favorites and exciting works that look to the future, performed by the 400-plus extraordinary artists under the SLSO banner—all in our beautifully transformed home.

This expansive, responsive programming would not be possible without you, our visionary board, and members of our incredible organization. We look forward to creating new memories with you during this exciting time as we continue to share the transformative power of music. Thank you for your enduring support.

Warmly,

Marie-Hélène Bernard
President and CEO