Seattle Symphony Orchestra

Recognized as a foundational pillar within Seattle's classical music community, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra has garnered acclaim through its efforts in community engagement, creative programming choices, and an impressive discography. The ensemble reached elite status under the leadership of music director Gerard Schwarz spanning the closing decades of the twentieth century and the opening years of the twenty-first. Five Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards stand among the honors collected by the Seattle Symphony. Since 2019, Thomas Dausgaard has held the position of music director for the orchestra.

Established in 1903, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra delivered its inaugural concert on December 29 of that year at Christensen's Hall under the direction of violinist and conductor Harry West. Just 24 musicians performed on that occasion, though the roster grew to 52 by 1907 upon the formation and incorporation of the Seattle Symphony Society. This body installed Michael Kegrize as the new conductor and relocated the group the next year to the recently constructed Moore Theatre. Henry Hadley took over as music director in 1909; within twelve months he had more than doubled the number of performances, expanded the ensemble to 65 players, and secured appearances by major soloists such as Fritz Kreisler and Josef Hofmann.

John Spargur assumed leadership after Hadley's departure in 1911, at which point the organization was renamed the Seattle Philharmonic and moved its concerts to the Metropolitan Theatre. Persistent difficulties prompted another reorganization in 1919, restoring the original name Seattle Symphony Orchestra while Spargur continued as music director; the ensemble, now numbering 85 musicians, took up residence at the University of Washington's Meany Hall. Further financial and administrative setbacks stripped the group of its professional standing. Madame Davenport-Engberg guided the Seattle Symphony from 1921 to 1923, after which the orchestra disbanded. It reconstituted in 1926 with Karl Krueger appointed conductor of the reconstituted 65-member ensemble. The first radio broadcasts began in 1932 under Basil Cameron, though the national depression and related fiscal pressures forced a curtailed season schedule.

Between 1938 and 1954 the Seattle Symphony worked with five successive music directors, among them the internationally renowned Thomas Beecham, who served from 1941 to 1943. Beecham's tenure produced capacity audiences yet also provoked controversy through his public remarks questioning the players' capabilities. Milton Katims became music director in 1954, introducing numerous contemporary compositions, attracting leading international artists—including a 1962 visit by Igor Stravinsky—and overseeing a more than fourfold increase in revenue along with multiple recordings that elevated the orchestra's profile. Although Katims remained music director until 1979, he relinquished the podium in 1976 to Rainer Miedél. Following Miedél's death in 1983, Gerard Schwarz was named principal conductor in 1984 and music director the following year. Under Schwarz the Seattle Symphony accumulated repeated Grammy nominations and, during the 2000-2001 season, presented four new major works, among them the U.S. premiere of Bright Sheng's Nanking! Nanking!. The orchestra's first concert in its new home, Benaroya Hall, occurred on September 12, 1998. The Seattle Symphony regularly collaborates with the Seattle Opera, performing in its productions of Wagner's Ring.

Ludovic Morlot succeeded Schwarz as music director in 2011. During Morlot's leadership the Seattle Symphony secured five Grammy Awards, established the Seattle Symphony Media recording label, and received Gramophone magazine's designation as 2018 Orchestra of the Year. Morlot and the ensemble commissioned and premiered Become Ocean by John Luther Adams; the resulting recording earned the orchestra one of its Grammy Awards and Adams the Pulitzer Prize. After serving as principal guest conductor from 2013 onward, Thomas Dausgaard assumed the music directorship in 2019.