San Francisco Symphony, orchestra founded 1911. It has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall since 1980. Henry Hadley, the original music director, was followed by Alfred Hertz (1915–30), who began radio broadcasts and recordings by the symphony. Other music directors have included Pierre Monteux (1936–52), Enrique Jordá (1954–63), Josef Krips (1963–70), Seiji Ozawa (1970–76), Edo de Waart (1977–85), Herbert Blomstedt (1985–95), who initiated a major renovation of Davies hall, Michael Tilson Thomas (1994–2020), who expanded the orchestra's audience and repertoire, and Esa-Pekka Salonen (2020–). The symphony tours regularly throughout Europe and Asia, and supports a youth orchestra and an extensive education program with San Francisco public schools.
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