SLSO President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard shares highlights of 2022/2023 and looks forward to the year ahead.
Thank you for your continued support of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. You are vital to our mission as we connect our community through the transformative power of music.
Thanks to your generosity, the SLSO serves our region as a performer, creator, educator, and connector. Our 143rd season has been filled with exciting collaborations—like Nathalie Joachim’s appearance opening weekend as composer and guest artist, our partnership with The Muny to celebrate Stephen Sondheim, our concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with members of the IN UNISON and Symphony Choruses, plus two SLSO commissions and world premieres by James Lee III and Kevin Puts. We also welcomed music educators from eight states for our third Extra Credit concert, offering a bucket-list chance to perform alongside SLSO musicians on the Emerson Concert Stage. At every concert, joy has radiated through audiences—including more than 13,000 newcomers—and our incredibly talented musicians.
The orchestra embarks next month on its first international tour since 2017, serving as cultural ambassador to five cities. This tour, which includes the prestigious Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Vienna Konzerthaus, will elevate the SLSO’s artistic profile abroad. I invite you to join us Thursday, March 16, at Powell Hall when Stéphane and pianist Víkingur Ólafsson present this “bon voyage” concert. You can also follow the tour online at slsostories.org and our social media channels beginning March 23.
We’ll share details of our 2023/2024 season on February 15. In his fifth season as Music Director, Stéphane invites you to experience symphonic repertoire that showcases the unparalleled artistry of our orchestra and choruses. We look forward to seeing you next season in our community and at our temporary home venues at Stifel Theatre and Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, an SLSO Presenting Partner.
This spring, work begins on the Powell Hall renovation and expansion. This project is inspired by you, enabling us to provide greater access to music, an even more welcoming and comfortable experience, and an education center that will build stronger connections through music. More information and project renderings are available at slso.org/powellhall.
I came to the SLSO in 2015 with a commitment to create more meaningful experiences for the St. Louis community. You have been a constant source of inspiration and have guided important shifts in the ways we serve you through the power of music. We’ve reimagined the concert experience, making the SLSO more welcoming, stretching the boundaries of repertoire, recruiting top talent, and showcasing music you love. We believe the SLSO is a social agent that helps make our region one of the most culturally thriving in our country. What makes the SLSO so special is you.
We appreciate you championing our unique art form—one that inspires, educates, and connects—and invite you to continue your support so we can continue to bring music to all. We look forward to welcoming you often to Powell Hall this spring.
Gratefully,
Marie-Helene Bernard
President and CEO