The Wattis Room

The San Francisco Symphony is a musical group that performs concerts, recordings and offers educational initiatives to audiences throughout the world. In December 1911, five years after a earthquake leveled parts of the city, the San Francisco Symphony performed its first concert. The orchestra, known for presenting free and community concerts throughout its season, was the first to feature symphonic radio broadcasts in 1926. Today, the symphony is heard in nationally syndicated radio broadcasts on more than 300 radio stations. Some noteworthy musical conductors have been guests on the symphony podium, including Bruno Walter, Leopold Stowkowski, Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Sir Georg Solti, and Mstislav Rostropovich. The list of composers who have led the orchestra is a who s who of 20th century music, including Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Maurice Ravel, Arnold Schoenberg, Paul Hindemith, Aaron Copland, and John Adams. The symphony has been honored 11 times by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers for programming of new music and its commitment to American music. It has performed its concerts at The Davies Symphony Hall since 1980.