Dallas Symphony Orchestra

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra traces its roots back to 1900, when Hans Kreissig first organized and directed an ensemble of 40 musicians. In the century since, the DSO has grown into one of the most respected orchestra groups in the nation, playing in legendary venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall and filling seats from Spain to Singapore.

When longtime conductor Andrew Litton announced his eventual departure in 2004, the orchestra began an exhaustive search for his replacement. After Dutchman Jaap van Zweden guest-directed an acclaimed DSO concert two years later, he was named as the orchestra’s new music director, and the 2008-09 season—van Zweden’s first as director—marked the beginning of a new era in the Dallas orchestral scene. The DSO season has two components: the Texas Instruments Classical Series, featuring the works of familiar names like Brahms, Beethoven, and Bach, and the DSO Pops Series, which has a more contemporary, friendly approach and includes big names such as Elvis Costello and Michael Bolton. The DSO performs in its home, the Meyerson Symphony Center.