The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1930 by German conductor Ferdinand Schaefer.  Its inaugural performance was noted by Time Magazine.  Through the years, the group of volunteer musicians who split the original ticket sales grew into a professional orchestra that performs more than 200 concerts each year at the historic Hilbert Circle Theatre and at Conner Prairie Living History Museum, as well as sites around the state.

The Circle Theatre opened in 1916 as one of the nation's first grand movie palaces. After a detailed and extensive renovation, it reopened on October 12, 1984, as the home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. It was generously endowed by Stephen and Tomisue Hilbert in December 1996 and renamed the Hilbert Circle Theatre.

The historic Theatre's intimate size (1,781 seats) and customized stage area suited to an 87-member ensemble create a superb venue for live performances.  The hall is available for rental for your special event.

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Notable moments have included:

• Women's Committee elected its first president in 1937
• "Salute" concerts to foreign countries in the 1950s and 60s 
• 1953-1975 Music Memory Contests at Indianapolis Public Schools 
• US Tour in 1968-69 
• Sold out Classical Series in 1979-80 - The 50th anniversary Season 
• First outdoor summer season of Marsh Symphony on the Prairie in 1982 
• October 12, 1984 - first concert at the Hilbert Circle Theatre 
• Annual Christmas holiday programs began in December 1986 that now draw 40,000 people each season 
• Appearances at Carnegie Hall in 1989 and 1991 
• Florida Tour in 1991 
• European Tours in 1993 and 1997 
• Origination of the Indianapolis-On-The Air radio broadcasts in the 1990s that now reach more than 7 million people on 250 radio stations across the country 
• 1999 - formation of the Symphonic Pops Consortium 
• School Partnership Program (Now Arts Everyday) began in March 2000
  

Music Directors
Ferdinand Schaefer (1930-1937)
Fabien Sevitzky (1937-1955
Izler Solomon (1956-1975)
John Nelson (1976-1987)
Raymond Leppard (1987-2001), Conductor Laureate since 2001
Mario Venzago (since 2002)

Principal Pops Conductors
Erich Kunzel (1982-2002)
Jack Everly (since 2002)