Austin Symphony Orchestra

The inaugural concert was held on April 25, 1911.[1] Initially, the orchestra consisted of 28 unpaid members and an unpaid conductor.[2] It now has over 90 members, but is still not a full-time orchestra.[1] 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.[1] He remained in the post for 21 years, until 1969.[3]

Rachlin organised a drive-in concert, the world's first, in 1948. The first children's concert was held in 1951.[2]

The Centennial Gala Performance took place on April 28, 2011, with the violinist Itzhak Perlman as soloist,[4] as well as a performance of Alexandre Luigini's Ballet égyptien, which had been played at the first performance a century earlier.[2]

The current, and eighth, music director is Peter Bay, who has been in the post since 1997.[1][5] Past directors include Maurice Peress (1970–73), Akira Endo and Sung Kwak.[6]

The symphony plays its regular season concerts in Dell Hall at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Austin.[7]