A New York orchestra
for a New York century

1. 1926

   From a neighborhood to Carnegie Hall

   Founded in 1926 through the inspiration of New York Municipal Court judge, the Honorable Leopold Prince, the New York City Symphony grew from a small neighborhood ensemble to a 110 member orchestra and in a few short years was presenting concerts throughout the city including performances at Carnegie Hall and the 1939 World’s Fair. In 1956 the orchestra became a fully professional ensemble and has since presented numerous concerts throughout the New York metropolitan area as well as concerts in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

2. 1974–1984

   Lincoln Center, Messiah, and new directors

   In 1974 the NYC Symphony came under the patronage of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s International Cultural Foundation and under its new music director, Thomas Ludwig, began an extensive series of concerts at Lincoln Center, The New York Society for Ethical Culture and Columbia University. In 1980 the orchestra presented two complete performances of Handel’s “Messiah” at the Manhattan Center under the direction of Dr. Brian Saunders. Francesco Santelli served as the orchestra’s music director from 1982 to 1984.

3. 1985

   David Eaton at Alice Tully Hall

   In 1985 the New York City Symphony began its highly acclaimed concert series at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall under its current music director, David Eaton. The orchestra has also appeared under Mr. Eaton’s direction at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall, the Apollo Theater, the United Nations, the Manhattan Center, Merkin Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

4. 1988

   Japan, Seoul, and the world

   In 1988, the orchestra made its first international tour that included four concerts in Japan and an appearance at the Olympic Arts Festival in Seoul, Korea. The orchestra also has performed at Gala performances for corporate organizations including the New York Stock Exchange, Paul Sorvino’s American Asthma Foundation and has appeared with the Metropolitan Repertory Ballet and the Universal Ballet Company at Lincoln Center’s State Theater.

5. 1988

   Tan Dun in New York

   The NYC Symphony introduced New York audiences to the music of Academy Award winning composer Tan Dun (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as David Eaton and the orchestra presented four of Tan’s works at Lincoln Center in 1988, including the world premieres of Tan’s Violin Concerto and Third Symphony.

6. 2006–2026

   Apollo, Saturday Night Live, and the UN at 70

   New York City Symphony concerts have included appearances at Harlem’s Apollo Theater for the Harlem School of the Arts benefit concert in 2006 as well as a Black History Month concert. Mr. Eaton conducted excerpts from the Halelu Cantata in the General Assembly of the United Nations as part of the U.N.’s 9/11 Commemorative Program, and again in 2012 for the U.N.’s Interfaith Conference. In 2014 members of NYCS appeared on NBC’s Saturday Night Live with the Grammy Award-winning band Imagine Dragons. In 2015 the orchestra returned to the United Nations for a concert celebrating the 70th anniversary of the U.N.’s founding. Members of the orchestra performed at the U.N. as part of the U.N./GHFS Awards banquet. In 2026 the orchestra’s chamber ensemble presented an intercultural performance at the United Nations’ ECOSOC 80th anniversary celebration.

7. The city

   Embassies, Harlem, and the United Nations

   In its attempt to represent the diversity of its New York base, the orchestra has produced concerts in conjunction with various international embassies, consulates and cultural organizations including those of Venezuela, the People’s Republic of China, Ukraine, Turkey, Taiwan, South Korea, the Uptown Chamber of Commerce and the Harlem School of the Arts. The orchestra has made numerous appearances at humanitarian and peace-related events including the World Cultural and Sports Festival in Washington, D.C., the inaugural concert of the International Peace Foundation in New York, the United Nations’ 10th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony of the World Trade Center attacks in 2011.

8. Chamber

   From Salt Lake City to the General Assembly

   The orchestra’s chamber ensemble and brass choir has presented numerous concerts in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, DC and Connecticut as well as a performance at the United Nations in 1998 as part of the U.N.’s 50th Anniversary celebrating the founding of its Non-Governmental Organizations. In 2002 the NYCS Chamber Ensemble performed at the Temple Recital Series in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2014, members of the orchestra appeared on Saturday Night Live with the Grammy-award winning band Imagine Dragons. The orchestra returned to the United Nations for concerts in 1999, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2026.

9. Artists

   The company the orchestra has kept

   Gifted artists who have appeared with the orchestra include Michala Petri, William Warfield, Shlomo Mintz, Boris Belkin, Aaron Rosand, Kim Kashkashian, Nancy Allen, Robert White, Joseph Flummerfelt, Paul Sorvino, Philip Michael Thomas, Lee Hoiby, Oleh Krysa, Marco Granados, Ky-Mani Marley, Vera Tsu, Yakov Kreisberg, Jamie Peterson, Mzuri Moyo, Laleh Nader, David D’Or, Miyuki Harley, Raoul Joseph, Ning Liang, Joseph and Anthony Paratori, Benal Tanrisever, Richard Fletcher, Julian Milkis, Natalia Khoma, Oxana Yablonskaya, Isabel Ganz, Dora Schwartzberg, Alexander Mishnaevski, Eric Person, Tokiko Richardson, Yoshimi Kadota, Gloria Criscione, the First Avenue Ensemble, Ancestors, Kenny Mohammed and Seiko Lee.