Memphis Symphony Orchestra

Specialties

We are a non-​profit organization dedicated to creating meaningful experiences through music.

History

Established in 1952.

In the spirit of the Memphis musical pioneers, twenty-​one musicians formed the Memphis Sinfonietta in 1952 and performed their first concert at the Goodwyn Institute in January 1953. When audiences swelled past capacity, the Sinfonietta moved to downtown’s Ellis Auditorium — later renamed in honor of the founding conductor and music director, Vincent de Frank. By 1960 the Sinfonietta matured into the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO). The MSO moved into Eudora Baptist Church while the de Frank Music Hall underwent a multi-​million dollar transformation into a world-​class concert venue. The work took six years. In January 2003 the orchestra came home to the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Concerts also take place at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre and Lindenwood Christian Church.

Since 2010, the MSO has been conducted by Music Director Mei-​Ann Chen. Popular as a guest conductor throughout the country, in July of 2011, she also assumed directorship of the Chicago Sinfonietta.