San Francisco Symphony
An American symphony orchestra based in San Francisco and resident at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
The San Francisco Symphony is a major American symphony orchestra based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1911 after local civic leaders organized the Musical Association to establish a permanent professional orchestra for the city. Henry Kimball Hadley led the orchestra's first concerts, which featured works by Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Haydn, and Liszt. From its earliest seasons, the organization combined traditional symphonic programming with popular concerts, public performances, broadcasts, recordings, and educational activity. The orchestra's history has included periods of financial and artistic uncertainty as well as substantial institutional growth. It faced bankruptcy during the 1920s and again during the Great Depression; public support through a San Francisco bond measure helped preserve the organization when the 1934–1935 season had to be cancelled. Alfred Hertz strengthened its artistic profile and helped establish radio and recording relationships. Pierre Monteux subsequently rebuilt the orchestra's standards and reputation, while later music directors including Josef Krips, Seiji Ozawa, Edo de Waart, Herbert Blomstedt, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Esa-Pekka Salonen each shaped its sound, repertoire, recording activity, touring profile, and relationship with audiences. Since 1980, the San Francisco Symphony has been resident at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in the Hayes Valley neighborhood. The venue enabled a longer regular season and provided a permanent home for the orchestra's concerts, recordings, broadcasts, and educational work. Its acoustics were substantially renovated in 1992, following sustained advocacy by Herbert Blomstedt and others. The organization is also associated with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, founded in 1972, and the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, founded in 1981. The orchestra has maintained a broad artistic scope. Its programming includes the standard symphonic repertoire, music by American composers, contemporary works, opera and ballet-related projects, choral repertoire, family and community events, and popular or crossover presentations. It has commissioned, premiered, recorded, and performed works by numerous leading composers and has hosted such figures as Camille Saint-Saëns, Maurice Ravel, George Gershwin, Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, and John Adams. Its international profile has been reinforced by tours in the United States, Europe, the Soviet Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. Broadcasting and recorded media have been central to the brand. The orchestra began regular radio broadcasting in 1926 through The Standard Hour and later participated in national, syndicated, stereo, satellite, television, DVD, streaming, and educational media projects. Under Michael Tilson Thomas, it developed the Keeping Score initiative, combining performances, documentaries, websites, and classroom resources to explain orchestral music to wider audiences. Its recordings have appeared through Victor, RCA, Deutsche Grammophon, Philips, BMG, and the orchestra's SFS Media label. Michael Tilson Thomas became the orchestra's longest-serving music director, leading it from 1995 through the 2019–2020 season and later serving as music director laureate. Esa-Pekka Salonen succeeded him for the 2020–2021 season and announced his departure at the end of his initial contract in 2025. Elim Chan was appointed music director-designate in 2026 and is scheduled to become the orchestra's thirteenth music director in the 2027–2028 season, making her the first woman appointed to that position. The San Francisco Symphony remains an active performing, recording, touring, educational, and civic institution.
History
The institutional roots of the San Francisco Symphony reach back to 1909, when San Francisco citizens formed the Musical Association to create a permanent professional orchestra. Joseph Redding, a composer, lawyer, and opera librettist, was among the association's founding board members and played an important role in selecting Henry Kimball Hadley as the first principal conductor and Eduard Tak as concertmaster. The orchestra gave its first concerts in 1911 with sixty musicians. Its opening season contained thirteen concerts and balanced canonical European works with popular programming. Alfred Hertz succeeded Hadley in 1915 and helped improve the orchestra's discipline, public visibility, and media relationships. In 1925 he arranged recording sessions with the Victor Talking Machine Company in Oakland. The following year the organization faced bankruptcy, but Standard Oil of California paid its debts in return for rights connected to The Standard Hour, a weekly concert broadcast that began in October 1926 on the NBC Pacific Network. The series continued for more than three decades and established the orchestra as an early leader in symphonic radio. The Depression brought another severe institutional crisis. The 1934–1935 season was cancelled because of financial difficulties, and San Francisco voters approved a bond measure that supplied public financing and preserved the orchestra. Pierre Monteux was appointed to restore its artistic condition. Under Monteux, the orchestra regained stability, obtained national broadcasting opportunities, and secured a new RCA Victor recording relationship in 1941. The organization also expanded its public reach through summer concerts, including programs led by Arthur Fiedler in San Francisco and at Stanford's Frost Amphitheater. After Monteux's departure in 1952, a succession of guest conductors led the orchestra before Enrique Jordá became music director in 1954. Jordá initially brought energy and charisma, but criticism later grew over rehearsal standards and orchestral discipline. The board dismissed him in 1963, and Josef Krips took over that autumn. Krips imposed demanding standards, particularly in German and Austrian repertoire, and established the New Year's Eve program later known as A Night in Old Vienna. He also invited Seiji Ozawa to guest conduct, helping create the conditions for Ozawa's appointment. Ozawa became music director in 1970 and quickly increased the orchestra's visibility. Concerts often sold out, and his leadership produced a Deutsche Grammophon recording contract beginning in 1972. He expanded the repertoire through Russian, American, theatrical, and contemporary works, including partially staged opera and ballet-related presentations. During this era the organization created its own chorus, now known as the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, rather than relying solely on temporary university ensembles. Edo de Waart succeeded Ozawa in 1977. He maintained the orchestra's technical standards and led its first concerts in Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in September 1980. The new venue, together with the War Memorial Opera House, enabled a longer September-to-May season. De Waart's period also included additional recordings and the orchestra's first digital sessions. Herbert Blomstedt became music director in 1985. He emphasized precision while seeking greater warmth and expressive flexibility, led the orchestra on European and Asian tours, revived syndicated radio broadcasts, and advocated for the acoustic renovation of Davies Symphony Hall completed in 1992. Michael Tilson Thomas became music director in 1995 after earlier guest appearances. His twenty-five-year tenure, ending after the 2019–2020 season, became the longest in the orchestra's history. Thomas expanded the orchestra's American repertoire, developed major Russian and Mahler projects, recruited concertmaster Alexander Barantschik, and guided recording activity for RCA/BMG and the orchestra's SFS Media label. His Keeping Score initiative, launched in 2006, extended the orchestra's educational mission through television, DVD, web, and school materials. Thomas subsequently served as music director laureate and conducted final concerts with the orchestra in 2025. Esa-Pekka Salonen, who had previously guest-conducted the orchestra, became music director in the 2020–2021 season. He announced in 2024 that he would step down in 2025, explaining that he and the board no longer shared the same goals for the institution's future. Elim Chan, who had guest-conducted the orchestra beginning in 2023, was named music director-designate in 2026 and is scheduled to begin her full-time term in autumn 2027. She is the first woman appointed music director of the San Francisco Symphony. The organization has toured widely in the United States, Europe, the Soviet Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. It has also maintained a substantial broadcast and recording presence, from early radio and live stereo transmissions to syndicated broadcasts, television, educational media, and digital distribution. Today the San Francisco Symphony operates as a performing-arts institution whose activities include subscription concerts, special events, choral and youth ensembles, recording, commissioning, touring, education, and civic engagement.
- 2026
Elim Chan named music director-designate
[1]Chan was appointed the orchestra's next music director, with her full-time term scheduled for 2027–2028.
- 2020
Salonen begins music-director term
[1]Esa-Pekka Salonen succeeded Michael Tilson Thomas as music director.
- 2006
Keeping Score introduced
[1]The orchestra launched a multimedia music-education project associated with Michael Tilson Thomas.
- 1992
Davies Hall acoustic renovation completed
[1]A major renovation improved the principal concert hall's acoustics.
- 1981
Youth Orchestra founded
[1]The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra was established as a training and performance ensemble.
- 1980
Davies Symphony Hall opens as home venue
[1]The orchestra began its residence at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall.
- 1972
San Francisco Symphony Chorus founded
[1]The organization established a permanent chorus for large-scale vocal and orchestral projects.
- 1935
Public financing preserves the orchestra
[1]After the 1934–1935 season was cancelled, San Francisco voters approved a bond measure supporting the institution.
- 1926
Radio broadcasting begins
[1]The orchestra launched The Standard Hour, creating an early long-term national radio platform.
- 1911
First San Francisco Symphony concerts
[1]Henry Kimball Hadley led the orchestra's inaugural season with sixty musicians.
Products and positioning
A globally recognized American orchestra combining high-level symphonic performance with commissioning, recording, touring, education, broadcast, and community programming.
Live performance · 1911
Subscription and concert seasons
The orchestra's principal offering is a season of subscription and single-ticket concerts at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. Programs span standard symphonic repertoire, major choral works, new music, American composition, family concerts, guest artists, and special presentations.
Choral ensemble · 1972
San Francisco Symphony Chorus
Founded in 1972, the chorus supports performances requiring large vocal forces, including oratorios, symphonies with chorus, opera-related projects, and other major concert works.
Education and youth ensemble · 1981
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Founded in 1981, the Youth Orchestra provides advanced orchestral training and public performance opportunities for young musicians in the Bay Area and surrounding region.
Recorded music
SFS Media recordings
The orchestra's own label documents selected performances and artistic projects, extending the reach of its repertoire beyond the concert hall through physical and digital recordings.
Education and media · 2006
Keeping Score
Keeping Score combines orchestral performances with documentaries, websites, DVD material, and school resources designed to explain musical structure, historical context, and listening practices to broad audiences.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006Keeping Score
United States · Digital and educational markets
A multimedia education initiative developed with Michael Tilson Thomas, combining performances, broadcast programs, documentary material, websites, and resources for schools.
Outcome. Expanded the orchestra's educational and public-media presence.
Brand decisions
2026
Appoint Elim Chan as incoming music directorGeneration changeBackground
Following Esa-Pekka Salonen's departure, the orchestra selected a new artistic leader for the 2027–2028 season.
Action taken
The organization named Elim Chan music director-designate, with a six-year initial contract scheduled to begin full-time in autumn 2027.
Aftermath
Chan is set to become the thirteenth music director and the first woman to hold the post.
2006
Launch Keeping ScoreStrategyBackground
The orchestra sought to broaden access to classical music through media and education rather than relying only on live attendance.
Action taken
It created a multi-platform project combining performances, documentaries, websites, and school programs.
Aftermath
Keeping Score became a significant part of the orchestra's educational and audience-development work.
1980
Move into Louise M. Davies Symphony HallStrategyBackground
The orchestra required a permanent modern concert venue capable of supporting a longer regular season and larger-scale programming.
Action taken
The San Francisco Symphony began its residence at the newly constructed Davies Symphony Hall.
Aftermath
The venue became the orchestra's principal home and supported expanded concerts, broadcasts, recordings, and educational activity.
1935
Accept public bond support after season cancellationStrategyBackground
Financial distress during the Great Depression threatened the orchestra's continued existence and led to cancellation of the 1934–1935 season.
Action taken
San Francisco voters approved a bond measure that supplied public financing and helped preserve the organization.
Aftermath
The orchestra resumed operations and appointed Pierre Monteux to restore its artistic and institutional strength.
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