Dallas Symphony Appoints Pinchas Zukerman Artistic & Principal Education Partner

Israeli-American violist and conductor will take on the role for two seasons, beginning in September 2021

A long-time collaborator with the Dallas Symphony, Zukerman will play concerts with the DSO chamber orchestra, appear as a soloist with the orchestra, and lead tutoring and coaching sessions for chamber music — in partnership with the Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts.

A virtuosic violist and violinist as well as conductor, Zukerman was DSO Principal Guest Conductor from 1993- 1995 and led the DSO Summer Music Festival from 1991-1995. He has appeared on over 100 albums, two of which were Grammy award-winning, and served as the Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for 12 years.

“It is always a joy to return to Dallas to perform and reconnect with so many musicians who I have known for many years,” Zukerman noted. “I am honored to be the first person named to this new position, and I look forward not only to collaborating once again with the Symphony over the next two seasons, but also having the opportunity to work with music students at the Meadows School and building this new relationship between two outstanding Dallas organizations.”

“SMU Meadows is especially pleased and honored to deepen and extend our relationship with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra,” said Samuel S. Holland, Algur H. Meadows Dean, Meadows School of the Arts at SMU. “The opportunity to bring a musician of Zukerman’s stature into direct contact with musicians of the next generation is unparalleled. It will be, I’m sure, a transformational experience for our students. The innovative partnership, including the distance learning component, will put Dallas, the DSO, and SMU Meadows in front of a global audience—and that’s sure to be a good thing for us all."