The Austin Symphony Orchestra is the oldest performing group in

Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

, USA. It was founded in 1911.

History

The inaugural concert was held on April 25, 1911.Austin 360.com
/ref> Initially, the orchestra consisted of 28 unpaid members and an unpaid conductor. It now has over 90 members, but is still not a full-time orchestra. It was not until 1948 that a paid music director was appointed — Ezra Rachlin being the first appointee – and a regular concert series was presented. He remained in the post for 21 years, until 1969. Rachlin organised a drive-in concert, the world's first, in 1948. The first children's concert was held in 1951. The Centennial Gala Performance took place on April 28, 2011, with the violinist Itzhak Perlman as soloist, as well as a performance of

Alexandre Luigini Alexandre Clément Léon Joseph Luigini (9 March 185029 July 1906) was a French composer and conductor, especially active in the opera house.Charton D. Alexandre Luigini. In: ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera.'' Macmillan, London and New York, ...

's '' Ballet égyptien'', which had been played at the first performance a century earlier.Texas Home and Living, 18 March 2011

Organization

The current, and eighth, music director is Peter Bay, who has been in the post since 1997. Past directors include

Maurice Peress Maurice Peress (March 18, 1930 – December 31, 2017) was an American orchestra conductor, educator and author. After serving as assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein beginning in 1961, Peress went on to stand ...

(1970–73), Akira Endo and Sung Kwak. The symphony plays its regular season concerts in Dell Hall at the

Long Center for the Performing Arts The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts venue located along Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, Texas. The Long Center is the permanent home of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera and Balle ...

in downtown Austin.

References

{{Authority control Organizations based in Austin, Texas Culture of Austin, Texas 1911 establishments in Texas Musical groups established in 1911 Texas classical music Orchestras based in Texas