Welcome! As we start the 2021/2022 season, I want to thank you for being such an engaged and loyal community of listeners. We are deeply grateful for the faith and trust you have shown in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra during a challenging and transformative time. The feedback and guidance you gave us has helped your SLSO remain focused on music in service to our community, prioritizing the experience of music and our role as a leader in music education.
This year marks the SLSO’s 100th anniversary of education programs. This remarkable legacy of connecting with young listeners and our next generation of musicians inspires us to continue our commitment to serve students from Pre-K through 12th grade. We believe that by helping create meaningful connections through music, these remarkable young people will grow up to be engaged individuals who help their communities thrive. We invite all of you—music enthusiasts of all ages—to explore the multiple forms of learning opportunities we offer.
I also want to acknowledge the sacrifices our musicians, two choruses, and youth orchestra have made over the last year and share my gratitude for their patience and resilience. The extraordinary creative spirit of our administrative team and Symphony Volunteer Association are also defining strengths of our beloved SLSO. Our Board and donors have inspired great work with their leadership support and charitable spirit.
The entire SLSO family remains deeply invested in our work toward ensuring access and creating spaces that are welcoming for all. We are committed to listening and learning from our community and will advance work toward serving more people, while diversifying our programming and artists. We look forward to including you all in this conversation to help shape the future of our orchestra.
This spring, the Board cemented the SLSO’s leadership stability by offering extensions to our extraordinary Music Director Stéphane Denève, as well as to myself. Stéphane and I are excited to continue our collaborations with the SLSO and with each other, as we craft an exciting future for your SLSO. Our programming this season was imagined as an offering to reconnect with you through music. We invite you to join us this season to experience the joy and healing power of music.
Wishing you a safe, healthy, and joyful season,
Marie-Hélène Bernard, President and CEO