In 1950 when players learned that Music Director and Conductor Samuel Fain was being paid $200 a season for his efforts, dissension began to grow within the orchestra’s ranks and 18 unionized players walked out (as did Mr. Fain, himself a musician). That year’s audit showed $3,286.08 in revenue, with a surplus of $1,975.17!

The union was suggesting $15 for a concert for a wage, and even volunteered to raise the money itself. Eventually, in 1952, the board agreed and, from that day to this, orchestra players have received pay for their service. Another union demand was filled when the board employed its first full-time conductor, Hungarian-born Frederic Balazs.

Volunteer organizations that support the TSO are the Tucson Symphony Orchestra League through fundraising programs and events including the biennial Art of Music, recruiting volunteers to help the administrative office, creating programs to increase awareness of the TSO and building constituencies among the outlying communities young people, professional groups, service organizations and others.

In 1958, the first Tucson Symphony Youth Orchestra was formed. By the mid-1960s, the orchestra was recording season audiences of some 13,000 in a six-concert season. In 1967, the orchestra had its first sold out season (six concerts, all singles in the 2,600-seat University of Arizona auditorium). Tickets in those days were $2 to $4 while a season ticket, top seats, was $20. In 1968, the orchestra became a metropolitan orchestra with a budget in excess of $100,000. In 1971, the Symphony had its gala opening featuring guest conductor Arthur Fiedler at its new performance venue, the City’s Music Hall.

As the Symphony continued to grow and expand its music offerings, the need for a new home and administrative and practice space became apparent. After a major fundraising campaign, the TSO acquired its own building that today houses administration as well as areas for practice, auditions and small performances.

Currently the TSO performs at the following venues: Tucson Music Hall, Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson Symphony Center and Green Valley Recreation Center.

In 2003, the TSO Chorus made its debut under the direction of Bruce Chamberlain when they performed Handel’s Messiah, a MasterWorks Chamber Orchestra special. The 90-voice TSO Chorus has continued to perform Messiah each season in addition to other works.

In more than 90 years of existence, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra has grown from a volunteer community orchestra to a fully professional orchestra serving Southern Arizona. In the last 30 years, growth has been apparent through the innovative programming, children’s concerts, community concerts throughout Southern Arizona, expansion of repertoire and ever-increasing artistic achievement.

There are over 375 education and community partnership presentations provided by the TSO annually, which reach tens of thousands of children and adults throughout southern Arizona. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra provides the most in-depth music education programs for children in all of Arizona. These include in-school sessions by TSO musicians, concert performances and comprehensive curriculum, as well as the Young Composers Project.

The mission of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra is to share beautiful, professionally performed music with as wide an audience as possible. It does so each season through a series of eight Classic concerts, five MasterWorks Chamber Orchestra concerts, five Pops at TSO concerts, classical and pops Specials, Films in Concert, ensemble performances, and award-winning educational programs.

Music Directors

The Orchestra has played under the leadership of the following music directors: