In 1925, Powell Hall opened as a vaudeville and movie theater—an exciting beginning for what would be an enduring St. Louis icon a century later. The building became the home of the St. Louis Orchestra in 1968, and ever since, it has been lauded as one of the nation’s most acoustically renowned concert halls. The venue has been the setting for countless world-class performances, and it has allowed the community to connect through the power of music. In recent years, the SLSO launched a fundraising campaign to support the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall. The culmination will be the opening of the new Jack C. Taylor Music Center this month.
“The SLSO has always been lucky to have such a wonderful performance space thanks to Powell Hall’s beauty and acoustics,” says Stéphane Denève, the Joseph and Emily Rauh Pulitzer Music Director. “This renovation is a dream come true. We’re preserving what was there while creating a new hub for even more people to enjoy music.” Designed by Snøhetta, the Jack C. Taylor Music Center will include Powell Hall as well as a 64,000-square foot expansion. The larger footprint will benefit both the symphony and its audience with the addition of more back-stage space for rehearsal and education as well as a new lobby and outdoor plaza to welcome visitors.
The restoration began in 2023, and the revitalized Powell Hall is planned to open to the public on Sept. 26, just in time for its 100th anniversary. To welcome audiences back, Denève has created a special program to celebrate the Jack C. Taylor Music Center’s opening weekend. It includes a trio of fanfares reflecting past, present and future. “It’s a very strong program, and it makes me excited as a music director,” Denève says. “We’re grateful that audiences have followed us to different venues the last two seasons, but now, we are back home, and it feels great.”
The entirety of the orchestra’s upcoming season will be as exciting as its opening, according to Denève. “People can expect only joy from the SLSO this season,” he notes. “We have a lot of big events planned, and we will be welcoming some wonderful guest conductors and soloists.” Audiences can look forward to performances of both classical and contemporary works, including the SLSO’s film series, which allows guests to experience beloved movie scores live. The season also will include an opera in concert, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, featuring a star-studded cast and the St. Louis Symphony Chorus.
More than anything, Denève is excited to be returning to Powell Hall to share the power and magic of music with the St. Louis community. “I’ve travelled the world to conduct many orchestras, and the SLSO is truly one of the best,” he says. “St. Louis should be proud, and the new Jack C. Taylor Music Center will make the orchestra even more accessible. Bringing people together to enjoy and share music is a cathartic and emotional experience. The SLSO will continue to inspire and transform the community.”
Opening on Sept. 26, the Jack C. Taylor Music Center will offer an exciting new home for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, including a renovation of Powell Hall. Pictured on the cover, clockwise from top left: Violinist Nicolae Bica, music director Stéphane Denève, oboist Xiomara Mass, principal trombonist Jonathan Randazzo, assistant concertmaster Hannah Ji. For more information, call 314.534.1700 or visit slso.org.
Cover provided by the st. louis symphony orchestra
Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography
Pictured at the top: The SLSO’s 146th season begins in the renovated Powell Hall on Sept. 26.
Photo: Tim Parker Photography