As the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s 2024/25 season comes to a conclusion, there are many accomplishments, milestones, and magical moments to remember. An atypical season in more than one way, tens of thousands of people heard the orchestra in concert halls, throughout the community, and even in sports stadiums and night clubs from September through May.
The second of two seasons performed at alternate venues while Powell Hall—the orchestra’s historic home since 1968—undergoes a transformative expansion and renovation, stories of travel served as a narrative thread: from opening weekend of concerts featuring the first SLSO performances of Mason Bates’ Nomad Concerto (with violinist Gil Shaham) to the classical finale performances of a staged version of the travel-seeking hero Peer Gynt.
As the orchestra itself traveled to several different venues, musicians met many friends along the way—at UMSL’s Touhill Performing Arts Center, where classical concert attendees and school groups heard the world premieres of two works and the US premieres of another three; at the Stifel Theatre, where symphonic music met other genres, creating electric presentations with Adam Wainwright, DMC, Disney princesses, and David Bowie’s bandmates; at The Sheldon and the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, where audiences saw the virtuosity of SLSO musicians up close for enlightening and inspiring chamber music; and in spaces across the St. Louis metro region from St. Peters to south county and as far away as the University of Iowa.
The SLSO performed alongside Emmy-, Grammy-, Oscar-, and Tony Award winning artist John Legend for its first concert of the season on stage at The Muny in front of thousands in the audience. (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
The orchestra’s free concert in Forest Park, held on September 19, drew what is believed to be a record-high attendance for the annual event, topping 30,000 attendees. (Photo by Justin Barr)
In a first-of-its-kind event for the SLSO, musicians teamed up with local DJ Alexis Tucci and DJ Masonic (composer Mason Bates) for an electronic dance party at The Hawthorn on September 28. (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
In front of tens of thousands of spectators, Music Director Stéphane Denève led brass and percussion musicians in the National Anthem at the September 28 St. Louis CITY SC match against Kansas City. (Photo by Jeff Curry,St. Louis City SC)
In a weekend-long celebration of his 80th birthday October 25-27, SLSO Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin emotionally reacts to the world premiere performance of Grand Slam Fanfare by his son, composer Daniel Slatkin. The piece was prepared without Leonard Slatkin’s knowledge and featured a cameo appearance by St. Louis Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
A full audience at the Stifel Theater responded with joy at November performances of Mozart’s Requiem, led by Stéphane Denève and featuring the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, prepared by Erin Freeman in her first season as Director of the Chorus. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
Music Director Stéphane Denève continued to welcome community leaders and volunteers to Stéphane Seats at classical concerts, including members of the Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective for a November concert.
At the December Live at The Sheldon chamber music concert curated by SLSO members, low brass musicians give the world premiere of a quintet by Steven Franklin, the SLSO’s Principal Trumpet. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
A program devoted to Baroque music welcomed audiences to Washington University’s 560 Music Center. The December 6-7 program featured SLSO musicians Ann Choomack and Alejandro Valdepeñas as soloists. (Photo by Tyler Small)
Members of the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus perform at the annual IN UNISON Christmas concert, which featured the a cappella group Take 6 this season. The Chorus marked the 30th anniversary since its founding in fall 1994. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
Accordionist Hanzhi Wang was the featured soloist in the world premiere of Nina Shekhar’s Accordion Concerto, given by the SLSO and conductor Daniela Candillari on January 11. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
SLSO Principal Keyboardist Peter Henderson reacts to applause from residents at the St. Louis County Justice Center. The SLSO convened partners to begin music weekly music lessons. Henderson and violinist Jessica Cheng Hellwege performed at a kick-off event at the center. (Photo by Eric Dundon)
At a special community event in January, SLSO musicians performed music by members of the LGBTQ+ community. (Photo by Philip Deitch)
Fusing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and the music of Grammy-winning artist Beyoncé, conductor Steve Hackman led Beethoven X Beyoncé. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
The February world premiere of Anna Clyne’s PALETTE featured projected visual and “augmented orchestra”—the live electronic processing of music to enhance the capabilities of the acoustic orchestra. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
On February 22, country met the concert hall with St. Louis Cardinals pitcher-turned-musician Adam Wainwright. The baseball-themed concert included stadium organ music and a musical version of the famous poem “Casey at the Bat” by famed sportscaster Joe Buck. (Photo by Virginia Harold)
Music Director Stéphane Denève led the US premiere of Guillaume Connesson’s Lost Horizons Violin Concerto with soloist Akiko Suwanai. (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
Erin Freeman, Director of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, led singers and a chamber ensemble of instrumentalists in a variety of choral pieces at UMSL’s Touhill Performing Arts Center in April. (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
To close the classical season, actors joined the orchestra and Chorus for a version of Peer Gynt, Henrik Ibsen’s play with music by Edvard Grieg. The play, which chronicles a prolific traveler, was the perfect conclusion to the orchestra’s nearly two-year nomadic life to alternate venues while its permanent home, Powell Hall, was expanded and renovated. (Photo by Tyler Small)
In another historic night, hip hop legends the Sugarhill Gang and DMC joined the SLSO at the Stifel Theatre. (Photo by Tyler Small)
“Throughout our nomadic period, our audiences’ loyalty has been our guiding light,” said Marie-Hélène Bernard, SLSO President and CEO.
The orchestra returns to the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, with the renovated Powell Hall at its heart, in September 2025 for a grand reopening celebration that includes the world premiere of a new song cycle by St. Louis native and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts. The 2025/26 season showcases the virtuosity and versatility, performing some of the biggest and boldest pieces in the symphonic repertoire.
Eric Dundon is the SLSO’s Public Relations Director.
