Music for All

The Campaign for the SLSO

The SLSO’s home is one of America’s most acoustically renowned and visually stunning concert halls. We’re renovating and expanding the almost 100-year-old civic treasure to preserve and enhance it for generations to come.

Opening in September 2025, the new Jack C. Taylor Music Center, named in honor of the late St. Louis philanthropist and civic leader, will make music more accessible for all and will deepen our impact for decades into the future. It includes Powell Hall, whose name will continue to define the existing 1925 building, plus a 64,000-square-foot expansion designed to enhance the audience and artist experience and broaden community connections. We hope you will join us in this once-in-a-generation initiative.

 

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Our Vision

Music for All: The Campaign for the SLSO supports the creation of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, which includes the renovation of Powell Hall and a transformational expansion. The campaign also supports the SLSO’s endowment, a critical source of revenue that sustains operations in this architectural landmark. The music center will facilitate greater community connections with new education, gathering, and backstage areas, while the renovation of Powell Hall will retain what you love about this historic asset and create an even more welcoming and comfortable experience for all.

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Welcome from Our President & CEO

Marie-Hélène Bernard, SLSO President & CEO, shares her excitement about the project to renovate and expand Powell Hall and her deep gratitude for the support of our donors and friends.

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Adult and child audience members sitting in auditorium seats smiling and laughing looking up at the stage

Support Music for All 

Your support is instrumental. Lead investors and generous benefactors have already committed gifts and pledges, but we need your help to reach our goal of $155 million. You can contribute to this momentous effort by making a gift to Music for All today.

Your investment in the future of the SLSO will help make this transformative initiative possible and create a positive impact on the organization now and for generations to come.

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View the Progress

November 2024—The exterior of the new main entrance awaits bricks and glasswork.
November 2024—Cleaning and repainting work moved to the iconic Wightman Grand Foyer.
October 2024—Installing a third elevator in the new front of house lobby. When the project is complete, there will be a total of five elevators.
October 2024—Painting of the auditorium is complete, unifying years of touch-ups into a single refreshed color accent by gold leaf details.
October 2024—Steel form work continued on the new lobby expansion, supporting a graceful arch on the south side of the structure.
September 2024—With the majority of painting in the auditorium complete, crews began the fine detail work to make sure the space looks polished.
September 2024—Crews began adding sheathing, the first of several outer layers, to the front of house expansion facade.
August 2024—After months of work, concrete pours on the spiral staircase concluded.
August 2024—The graceful steel arch outlining the new entrance was erected.
August 2024—Scaffolding reached the highest points of the auditorium, where crews meticulously cleaned and pointed the iconic dome.
July 2024—The front of house expansion is visible from the upper floors of the Angad Arts Hotel.
June 2024—Masonry work continued on the facade of the Education and Learning Center.
June 2024—The exterior steel work began to rise at the front of house.
June 2024—The view from the Dress Circle level looks on two new elevators and areas that will include restrooms and concession areas.
June 2024—Form work for the new spiral staircase in the front of house expansion began.
May 2024—The door on Grand Ave. were removed. New, exit-only doors will be added later and will look similar to the originals.
May 2024—Roof work took place on the Education and Learning Center.
May 2024—As the front of house expansion rose, masonry work began on the back of house spaces.
May 2024—In late spring 2024, the front of house expansion rapidly progressed.
April 2024—The front of house expansion continued with the pouring of the first level deck.
April 2024—A new cooling tower is airlifted into place atop the new backstage wing.
March 2023—A screen for infrastructure equipment was installed on top of the new loading dock at the back of house expansion.
March 2024—Scaffolding obscured most of the stage and painting and cleaning work began in the auditorium.
February 2024—The Education and Learning Center rises to three stories tall.
February 2024—The first shear wall of the new lobby to be erected was the back side of a new grand spiral staircase.
December 2023—Crews pour concrete for the new Education and Learning Center, future home of the SLSO’s education programming which served more than 430,000 in the 23/24 season.
November 2023—The north face of the building, along Delmar Blvd., begins to rise.
October 2023—On the Terrace Circle level, the auditorium appears empty as the seats and carpet were removed.
September 2023—Unseen by most visitors, the building’s office spaces were stripped down to brick and steel.
September 2023—A new cross-auditorium aisle was added to the orchestra floor level in preparation for concrete work.
August 2023—With the floor poured, crews began adding decking to build up the backstage wing.
August 2023—Aerial view of the backstage wing as the pouring of the basement floor continued.
August 2023—Crew poured and finished the basement floor. This portion of the expansion will house mechanical systems, relocated from under the auditorium floor and stage.
August 2023—With the basement walls and pillars erected, foundation work on the new front of house continued in earnest.
July 2023—With the seats removed, crews covered holes in the floor that distributed heating and air conditioning.
July 2023—While work on the backstage wing continued, crews shifted attention to digging the foundation for the new front of house expansion.
June 2023—By early summer 2023, the basement walls of the backstage wing began to rise.
June 2023—The iconic “Park” signs were dismantled as site work continued. The signs live on, though, at their new home at City Museum.
June 2023—Following the final concerts of the 2022/2023 season, the seats were removed, leaving a starkly empty auditorium. The seats will be replaced replaced with larger ones with cup holders, but the look will be similar. Some of the seats were donated to other institutions, including Grand Center Arts Academy.
May 2023—Site preparation continued as crews approached pouring the foundation for the new backstage wing.
March 2023—As the orchestra toured Europe, construction at Powell Hall began by removing a parking lot.

Music for All: The Campaign for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: Summer 2024 Updates

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: Repainting the Auditorium (June 2024)

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: Exterior Progress (July 2024)

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: New lobby rises (April 2024)

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: A View from Above (March 2024)

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: Auditorium repainting begins (February 2024)

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: Education and Learning Center takes shape (November 2023)

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: Excavation for new lobby begins (July 2023)

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: Community Partnerships (June 2023)

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: Moving Out (May 2023)

Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation: The Project Begins! (April 2023)

News + Updates

Making Progress

Read the latest updates and view construction photos and videos.

Improving Accessibility

Read about how we are making Powell Hall more welcoming to all.

Elevating Education

Discover how the new Education and Learning Center will impact students.

See all

Powell Hall has a soul. It adds a certain glow to the sound with its distinct character. I am so happy that this renovation will add to Powell Hall’s poetic sound.

Stéphane Denève, The Joseph and Emily Rauh Pulitzer Music Director

Powell Hall is the most beautiful space in St. Louis. To go there, it just feels electric and special when I walk in the door.

Annie Marshall, longtime SLSO audience member

For many of my students, a visit to Powell Hall is their first exposure to live music. I love that the SLSO is dedicating a new space to enriching the musical experience of students and their teachers.

James McKay, music educator in the Hazelwood School District and director of music at Gateway Music Outreach

A dedicated rehearsal space will give singers the space they need to hone their craft, create wonderful musical memories, and strengthen the social fabric of St. Louis.

Kwamina Walker-Williams, a member of the IN UNISON Chorus

I think we as a community are extraordinarily lucky to have Powell Hall, and its preservation will fortify its reputation as the best place to hear music in the region.

Alan Freed, baritone in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus

Make Your Gift

Every gift is meaningful in helping us reach our campaign goal. Your support ensures music is accessible to all in St. Louis for generations to come.

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