Department of Community Affairs. Division of Fine Arts. Utah Symphony

A primary function of the Utah Symphony Orchestra has been to supply employment and training for native musicians in orchestral, choral, and operatic performances. Much of this training was accomplished through the symphony's long association with the University of Utah. Beginning in 1948, the Utah Symphony became the official orchestra for the University of Utah Summer Festival productions of opera and Broadway musicals. The symphony secured rehearsal quarters in the Annex. In return the orchestra's library became available for use by the university's music department and leading symphony personnel became available for instructing instrumental students. The orchestra has also been an integral part of the university's ambitious ballet program since its inception in 1950 as well as forming the pit orchestra for University Theatre productions of representative Broadway musicals each season. The University of Utah Chorale became the official recording and performing voice of the Utah Symphony.

The orchestra's concert schedule included subscription concerts in two cities, youth concert programs, student assembly school concerts, special performances, regular concert tours throughout Utah and the intermountain region and special national and international tours. Symphony performances were regularly featured on local radio broadcasts and the orchestra made guest appearances on nationwide broadcasts. Since beginning its commercial recording program in 1957, Utah Symphony has had more than 125 major releases on several different record labels. Utah Symphony musicians, billed as the Columbia Symphony, also participated in recordings of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on several occasions. The Utah Symphony was also the official orchestra for the annual Ballet West production of "The Nutcracker" as well as for the Utah Opera Company.

The Utah Symphony Orchestra was initially governed by a 25-member board of directors (later increased to 33 members). A musical director employed by the board recruited, hired, and conducted musicians. An associate conductor has been employed since 1948. Business affairs were handled by the manager (later called the executive director). As chief operating officer, the manager supervised the executive staff and ran the front office.

The Utah State Symphony Orchestra Assocition, meeting jointly with the art institute board (#369), first convened on April 8, 1940. Association members scheduled a concert for May 8, 1940, and began the work of recruiting and hiring musicians to form the new orchestra. Former members of the Utah State Sinfonietta, a community orchestra established in 1935 through funding by the federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) and operating under an art institute campaign designed to develop Utah talent in all the arts, formed the nucleus of the new orchestra hired by the board. A contingent of professional musicians augmented the holdover players to form a 52-piece orchestra.

After six seasons of this two-tier arrangement, the symphony board in December 1945 decided to upgrade the orchestra to a fully professional, full-time organization. Although its goal of a full-time (52-week, year-round schedule) professional symphony orchestra wasn't realized until 1980, the board immediately began contracting with professionals for the 1946 season. This action had a stabilizing effect, making the 1946 season the first with stable personnel.

The Utah Symphony Society, which governed the 85-piece orchestra, severed organizational ties with the Division of Fine Arts (#369) on May 24, 1976, becoming a non-governmental, publicly supported, non-profit corporation. The Utah Symphony continues to receive funding from the Utah Division of Fine Arts in the form of grants to non-profit arts organizations.