Mission
THE DES MOINES SYMPHONY IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA FORMED IN 1937 TO ENRICH, EDUCATE, AND INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY BY PERFORMING GREAT ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. THE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION, GOVERNED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OPERATING ON AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF MORE THAN 4.2 MILLION, SUPPORTS THE SYMPHONY ACADEMY AND ITS NUMEROUS MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING FOUR YOUTH ORCHESTRAS AND A YOUTH WIND ENSEMBLE. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO SUPPORTS THE DES MOINES SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WHICH PERFORMS SEVEN PAIRS OF MASTERWORKS CONCERTS, A SUMMER SEASON OF FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS AT THE LAURIDSEN AMPHITHEATER IN WATER WORKS PARK, A REGULAR SEASON POPS SERIES INCLUDING THE TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR'S EVE POPS, AND EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND FAMILY CONCERTS. THE DES MOINES SYMPHONY ALSO PRODUCES AND PERFORMS THE ANNUAL YANKEE DOODLE POPS CONCERT IN JULY ON THE GROUND OF THE IOWA STATE CAPITAL.