The Dallas Symphony Orchestra began in 1900 as a 40-member ensemble under the direction of the German conductor Hans Kreissig, who helped finance the development of the orchestra and led the players for the first five seasons. More than 100 years later, the DSO is still running strong, with more than 200 performances each year.
The DSO has a major commitment to young audiences and performs youth concerts for pre-K through sixth, along with student Rush tickets and student subscriptions at up to 50% off regular prices. In addition, the DSO has a wonderful online musical resource for children, DSOkids.com, a website dedicated to teaching children about classical music.
For adults wishing to learn a bit more about the orchestra’s programs, the DSO offers free Performance Preludes one hour before each Classical series performance, where the evening’s program is discussed.
For die-hards wanting to see everything or for those who want the freedom of spontaneity are the DSO’s Impromptu packages, where for a fixed monthly fee Impromptu patrons may attend unlimited concerts in the Texas Instruments Classical and DSO Pops series.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) Information
- Public Transportation: Very good (convenient to DART rail and bus service) at Pearl and Bryan Streets
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good
- Performances/Programs: Approximately 225 annually
- Ticket Prices: Range from $17 to $122; concerts are individually priced with a variety of seating options. $15 student Rush tickets are available for purchase online at least seven days prior to the concert and at the box office at least two hours before the concert. 5%–20% discounts for groups of 10 or more, depending on the concert
- Subscriptions: Classical, Family, Pops, and a Casual Classics Summer series are offered. Also available are Impromptu packages; for a fixed monthly fee, Impromptu patrons may attend unlimited concerts in the Texas Instruments Classical and DSO Pops Series (provided seating is available) and are entitled to one free guest ticket each season. Student subscriptions are available at a 50% discount. Subscribers enjoy ticket exchanges and donation for resale, as well as lost or misplaced tickets printed at no cost
- Membership: A $50 donor receives a Dallas Symphony newsletter subscription. Higher levels of giving are good for invitations to exclusive events and open rehearsals, discounts at restaurants and the symphony store, complimentary CDs, and invitations to exclusive holiday parties.
