The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Selected to Receive a League of American Orchestra’s Gold Award of Excellence for the DSOL’s 2024 Savor the Symphony
Dixey Arterburn, 2024-2025 president of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, is honored to announce the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League is selected to receive a League of American Orchestra’s Gold Award of Excellence for the DSOL’s 2024 Savor the Symphony fundraiser, chaired by Nikki Beneke and Joanie Stephens. Nancy Labadie was 2023-2024 president. The Gold Award of Excellence recognizes best-in-class programs or initiatives that have made a significant impact on their orchestras.
“We’re honored and thrilled to be named a Gold Award of Excellence recipient,” Dixey said. “Our Savor the Symphony is an important fundraiser that brings together supporters in a lovely setting celebrating everything food and wine, plus offering guests an overview of the League and our commitment to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.”
Nikki said, "We are so excited to receive the LAO Gold Award of Excellence. In 2024, we reimagined Savor the Symphony with new branding and a new program and reached a larger corporate and individual donor audience. Updating the event allowed us to incorporate the Magic of Music through our incredible magician and illusionist and performances by alumni involved in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's education and outreach programs. The performances showcased how music changes lives for children in our community. Savor the Symphony is a unique event that focuses on a first-class evening where patrons enjoy gourmet offerings paired with lovely wines, a live and silent auction, and featured performances.”
Proceeds from the event benefit the Dallas Symphony Association and its education and outreach programs including:
• Young Strings, Kim Noltemy Young Musicians and the Cecil and Ida Green Youth Concert Series impact over 20,000 students and are vital as they open doors to a brighter future and more opportunities.
• MyDSO Concerts are specially designed for children and adults on the autism spectrum and with developmental disabilities, and their families, friends and caregivers.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra League's (DSOL's) mission is to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Community Outreach and Education Programs opening doors to a brighter future for the children in our community. The programs include: Young Strings, Kim Noltemy Young Musicians, Cecil and Ida Green Youth Concert Series, DSO on the Go (Community Concerts and Performances), and My DSO Concerts for children and adults on the autism spectrum. The DSOL has raised over $22 million to support these programs.
Learn more at www.dallassymphonyleague.com/Savor-the-Symphony.
The League of American Orchestras:
The League of American Orchestras (LAO) champions the vitality of music and the orchestral experience, supports the orchestra community, and leads change boldly. The only national organization dedicated to orchestras and their communities, the League supports the field through advocacy, research, convenings, leadership development, artistic programs, and grants. Founded in 1942 and chartered by Congress in 1962, the League includes nearly 25,000 musicians, conductors, orchestra staff, board members, volunteers, and business partners working within our membership of 1,600 world-renowned orchestras, community groups, summer festivals, student and youth ensembles, conservatories and libraries, businesses serving orchestras, and individuals who love symphonic music.
Gold Award Description:
The Gold Award of Excellence recognizes best-in-class programs or initiatives that have made a significant impact on their orchestras. Each winner receives a crystal award at a special reception and makes a PowerPoint presentation to fellow volunteers during the conference. The LAO 2025 National Conference is June 11-13 in Salt Lake City, Utah and will be hosted by the Utah Symphony & Utah Opera. https://americanorchestras.org/gold-award-of-excellence/
Photo by Danny Campbell