The Beatles crossing Abbey Road? Nah. It’s Des Moines Symphony Orchestra musicians crossing 3rd Street to our performance venue — the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. 

Hear the Des Moines Symphony perform The Classic Hits of The Beatles, with Classical Mystery Tour, New Year’s Eve, Mon Dec 31 at 8 p.m.! 

Des Moines was extra special Saturday night and Sunday afternoon as we kicked off our 75th Anniversary Season.  The crowds rolled in anxiously awaiting the debut performance of our Masterworks Series: Scheherazade & Nomade.

Under the conduction of Joseph Giunta the Des Moines Symphony played the following repertoire:
KORNGOLD  Overture to Captain Blood
WAGNER  Preludes to Act I & III * from Lohengrin
Steve HEITZEG  Symphony In Sculpture/World Premiere
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV  Scheherazade

“Our 75th Anniversary Season debuts with the world premiere of a newly-commissioned piece written by Minnesota composer Steve Heitzeg for this very special occasion. This work — Symphony In Sculpture – celebrating our Music From The Heartland project, portrays in music the groundbreaking and signature addition to downtown Des Moines: the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park.”

The audience followed along every minute to truly capture the art, of not only the music, but of  the wonderful sculptures that were shown through the video which accompanied the symphony.

We anxiously await our Masterworks 2, Symphonie Fantastique, which will be on October 27th & 28th.  More information can be found at http://dmsymphony.org/events/masterworks-2-symphonie-fantastique/

The moment we have all been waiting for. The Season Debut of Masterworks 1: Scheherazade & Nomade. Saturday, September 29 at 7:30pm & Sunday, September 30 at 2:30pm.

Our 75th Anniversary Season debuts with the world premiere of a newly-commissioned piece written by Minnesota composer Steve Heitzeg for this very special occasion. This work — Symphony In Sculpture – celebrating our Music From The Heartland project, portrays in music the groundbreaking and signature addition to downtown Des Moines: the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. That and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, a stunning and opulent depiction of Arabian Nights, will make for an unforgettable, celebratory concert event!

Tickets start at just $15 for adults and $7.50 for students
 dmsymphony.org/

A couple of VERY nice Thank You cards from some students at the Academy. Here’s what they had to say:

“Thank you so much for sharing your time and talents with our family this fall.  Extra special thanks for taking the time to make-up her missed lesson… we are very appreciative of your generosity. Most of all, thank you for instilling a love of music and piano lessons in all of your little charges. I cannot imagine a more perfect introduction to music education than the one that you have artfully provided. Your passion for music, teaching and children shines through in each of your interactions with your young students. Many thanks and best wishes for a joyful holiday season.”

“Thank you for teaching me so many things at music class. I love coming!”

Help us welcome our Des Moines Symphony marketing intern JT Cattle! JT is a marketing and management senior at Drake University from Seward, NE.  His love for music has evolved as a member of the Drake Choir (going on 4 years now) and is excited to collaborate with the Symphony for the Carmina Burana in April.  In his free time you can find him at the local coffee shop or swinging a racquet around on the tennis courts.

At the 2012 Polk County Fair, Symphony Academy piano student Tylar Meister received a blue ribbon for this coffee table book on Iowa-born Michael Daugherty’s Red Cape Tango. Tylar heard the Des Moines Symphony perform the piece in April.

The judge thought his project not only looked fun but also reflected his learning and research. He’s already looking forward and making plans for his next music project!

Congrats, Tylar!