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Durham Symphony Announces Auditions for the 25-26 Season!
Auditions will be held on Saturday, May 17th and Sunday May 18th, 2025, at the Durham Arts Council.
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FREE Family Concert at Emily K
April 26, 2025, 3 PM
Emily K Center, Durham
Join the Durham Symphony and Kidznotes on Saturday, at 3:00 PM at the Emily K Center, Durham, for this free family concert! Kidznotes students have prepared music to play side-by-side with DSO musicians, inspiring and encouraging them to continue their musical journey through adulthood. This will be a family-oriented concert of familiar classical and popular tunes with an instrument “petting zoo” before the concert. Doors open at 2:30 PM.
Emily K Center is at 904 West Chapel Hill Street, Durham. Hope to see you there!
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Spring into Summer with DSO at the Park
May 4, 2025, 3 PM
Durham Central Park, Durham
This free family concert will feature classical, jazz, and “pops” selections. The orchestra will perform under a pavilion with a large lawn, drawing crowds from the surrounding neighborhoods.
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Voices of the Unarmed
Justice, Love, Resilience
February 14, 2025, 8 PM
Carolina Theatre, Durham
Read our latest “Monday Musicale with the Maestro” that discusses Overture and Fanfare in G Major
On February 14th, 2025, the Durham Symphony Orchestra (DSO) presented an uncommon tale of love—a unique and personal tribute to the healing power of art and community. This free concert, “Voices of the Unarmed,” offered an impassioned program weaving together music, text, and conversation as it explores the themes of justice, love, and resilience.
READ MORE:
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At UNC Greensboro’s December 2024 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, Maestro William Henry Curry was presented an honorary degree for his extraordinary accomplishments and trailblazing career.
READ MORE!
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We are incredibly proud of our Music Director, William Henry Curry, who received the North Carolina Award for Fine Arts! Bravo, Maestro Curry!
In November, eight distinguished North Carolinians were honored with the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest honor, by Governor Roy Cooper. The award recognizes significant lifetime achievements in the areas of fine arts, literature, public service and science.
The 2024 honorees are The Avett Brothers (Scott Avett, Seth Avett, and Bob Crawford) for Fine Arts, William Henry Curry for Fine Arts, Frank A. Bruni Jr. for Literature, Thomas W. Earnhardt for Science, Christina H. Koch for Science, and Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr. for Public Service.
Let’s give a big round of applause to Maestro Curry and the other remarkable individuals who embody what makes North Carolina remarkable. We’re grateful for their contributions and look forward to seeing their continued impact!
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Thank you for two amazing evenings of music! Winter Pops at the Durham Armory! Winter Pops at the Rialto! What a wonderful way to start the holiday season!
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Join us for our 2024 – 2025 Season!
The Durham Symphony Orchestra (DSO) under the direction of Music Director and Conductor William Henry Curry is pleased to announce its 49th season with eight performances in Durham and around the Triangle from September through May. Programs will feature gifted local artists, up-and-coming young musicians, world premieres, and thirteen works by American composers. The orchestra will return to the historic Carolina Theatre, Hayti Heritage Center, Durham Armory and The Rialto and continue its traditional holiday programs and free Pops Concerts. Read More…
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The Durham Symphony Orchestra is excited to announce the creation of our Conducting Fellows Program and to welcome Donovan Polk as the first young professional appointed to this position!
Donovan made his conducting debut with us at the Durham Armory on Saturday, December 7th, 2024, during our annual Winter Pops concert. He conducted Christmas Overture by the great 20th-century Afro-British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. We kicked off the holidays and welcomed this remarkably gifted young professional into our musical family!
Read about Donovan here!
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Stay Up to Date with the Durham Symphony!
Get the latest concert schedule, community activity updates,
plus videos and messages from our Music Director William Henry Curry!
Sign Up Here!
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We are thrilled to share with you this recording of the Durham Symphony in a memorable concert celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Choral Society of Durham!
On May 19th, 2024, in Duke’s Baldwin Auditorium, the Durham Symphony joined forces with the Choral Society of Durham and the Little River Chorus to perform Carl Orff’s most famous work, the epic cantata Carmina Burana. Under the inspired direction of Rodney Wynkoop (conductor and artistic director of the CSD), choruses and orchestra were stellar and soloists Alissa Roca (soprano), Timothy W. Sparks (tenor), and Jason S. McKinney (bass-baritone) were sublime. It was absolutely one of the highlights of the DSO’s 2023-24 season!
Enjoy!
William Henry Curry
Music Director, Durham Symphony Orchestra
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Enjoy Farandole, by Georges Bizet, performed by the Durham Symphony at Compositions by Her: A Concert Celebrating Women in Music.
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Spectrum News 1 featured the Durham Symphony celebrating Women’s History Month at our March 2024 Concert,
“Compositions by her, Celebrating Women in Music!
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BULL CITY TODAY Featured the
Durham Symphony!
Have a look!
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Our Maestro, William Henry Curry
Maestro Curry was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Durham Symphony on May 7th, 2009. During his over fifty-year career, he has conducted more than forty major orchestras. Maestro Curry is the first African American Music Director of a symphony in the history of the South; our concerts reflect his broad experience.
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Monday Musicale with the Maestro!
Watch excerpts from our concert videos with introductory comments from Maestro William Henry Curry.
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Our Music! Your support helps us play on.
We aim to bring the highest quality musical experiences to all corners of our community. We perform Baroque, contemporary symphonic works, Broadway and Hollywood. Our programs include works by American composers, composers of color, and women composers.
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Read our latest news here:
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