The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) celebrates a transformative milestone with the grand opening of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center—a state-of-the-art expansion redefining St. Louis’s cultural landscape.
Among those in attendance were St. Louis media legend Robin Boyce, St. Louis Argus publisher Talibdin “TD” El-Amin, and Dr. Safiyyah El-Amin.
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) officially ushered in a new chapter in its storied history this weekend with the ribbon-cutting of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, a state-of-the-art expansion and renovation project that redefines the city’s cultural landscape. The opening offered the media an exclusive tour of the historic Powell Symphony Hall alongside the dazzling new 64,000-square-foot addition, capped by a moving rehearsal led by the Music Director
Stéphane Denève.
SLSO Music Director Stéphane Denève addresses the media inside the newly expanded Jack C. Taylor Music Center, with the orchestra in view.
This milestone represents the culmination of a record-breaking $173 million fundraising campaign, which exceeded its initial goal of $155 million and fully covered the project’s $140 million construction cost. The effort is the most ambitious in the orchestra’s history and underscores the community’s profound commitment to ensuring that St. Louis remains at the forefront of the global music stage.
A Vision Realized
For SLSO Board of Trustees Chair Steve Finerty, the moment was both personal and deeply civic. “After many years of dreaming and planning this transformative project for the people of St. Louis, we are ready to welcome audiences to our new music center,” Finerty said at the opening. “It took the talents of countless people to reach this point, especially the generosity and support of our community. We are poised to launch a new era that will elevate St. Louis as a global music destination.”
The project, years in the making, is more than a physical transformation of Powell Hall—it is a cultural promise. The new Education and Learning Center within the Jack C. Taylor Music Center will provide expanded space for the SLSO’s two resident choruses, its Youth Orchestra, and a growing portfolio of education and community engagement programs.
A Legacy of Accessibility
SLSO President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard emphasized that the expansion extends beyond bricks and mortar. “This is more than a building—it is a promise to our city, our artists, and the future of the St. Louis region to make music more accessible to all,” Bernard said.
That commitment to accessibility is woven into the design of the new spaces, which include rehearsal and performance areas, gathering places for the community, and enhanced infrastructure for modern multimedia productions.
Honoring Jack C. Taylor
The music center bears the name of Jack C. Taylor, the late philanthropist, entrepreneur, and longtime SLSO patron who championed both the orchestra and the broader St. Louis community. His legacy lives on not only in the name of the building but in the expanded reach and impact the center promises to deliver.
A Historic Orchestra Steps Forward
Founded in 1880, the SLSO is the second-oldest orchestra in the United States, carrying a legacy that bridges generations. It’s the 146th season, launched with concerts from September 26–28 marks the first time audiences will experience the newly renovated hall and expanded campus.
Among the attendees at the ribbon-cutting was Dr. Safiyyah El-Amin, who attended with her husband, St. Louis Argus publisher Talibdin El-Amin. “Proud to be a part of such a historic event, and you could feel the legacy in the space,” Dr. El-Amin reflected. “We look forward to working with SLSO to introduce many in the African-American community and students who may not have had the exposure to the beauty of the orchestra and symphonic productions through
Our media,” stated Talibdin El-Amin, publisher of St. Louis Argus.
A New Era for St. Louis
The Jack C. Taylor Music Center is more than a landmark—it is a bold investment in the future of music and culture in St. Louis. With its world-class facilities, expanded educational programs, and renewed commitment to accessibility, the SLSO is charting a course that will resonate locally and globally for years to come.
For more information about the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and upcoming performances, visit slso.org or call 314-533-2500.
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