About the Symphony
Founded August 1, 1991, the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra is the largest arts group in Irving. The LCSO presents a season of eight subscription concerts annually at the Irving Arts Center under the baton of Music Director Robert Carter Austin. The ensemble’s ninety-three professional musicians are chosen by competitive auditions from over four hundred applicants each year.
The LCSO’s inaugural season, titled “Symphonic Fantasies”, opened with a gala Pops concert featuring famed guitarist Chet Atkins. Over six hundred area concertgoers were in attendance, giving the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra the largest 1991 opening night audience of any Irving Arts group. Subsequent seasons have seen a steady increase in the number of season subscribers to, and single tickets sales for, the LCSO’s concerts, which culminated in the highest attendance level for any Irving Arts group during the 1999-2000 season.
Mission Statement
The Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to excellence in the performance of symphonic music and to the cultural enrichment of the dynamic Las Colinas corporate and residential communities, as well as to serving patrons throughout Irving and adjacent cities.
Performance Venue
The stunning 707 seat Carpenter Performance Hall combines state-of-the-art theater technology with exquisite ambiance not often found in theaters of this capacity. The soft glowing glass bricks and plush velvet balcony, box, and main floor seating are just a few of the special touches that make this theater one of a kind
Musicians
The orchestra is comprised of 93 professional musicians. Over 19 different nations are represented in the musician roster and this talent is complemented with internationally renowned featured soloists.
Achievements
The LCSO is Irving’s largest arts organization.
The LCSO is a Level 1 Artistic organization per the Texas Commission for the Arts classification.
Artistic Organization – Level 1:
Artistic organizations further the artistic and cultural offerings of the community or state with a mission that clearly speaks to the arts or a specific arts discipline. In addition, these organizations are recognized by the IRS with their final letter of determination as a 501 (c)(3), nonprofit organizations incorporated in Texas, for over one year.
A Level 1 Organization:
- has a cash operating budget of $50,000 or more for the last completed fiscal year
- maintains an annual operating budget of less than $1,000,000
- may have full-time, part-time, paid or volunteer artistic and management personnel
- must operate as a full-time arts organization offering public programs on a year-round basis
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