Q: When was the Élan Circle established?
A: The Élan Circle was established as the Junior Group of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League in 1959. It was renamed Élan Circle in 2006 as the group enjoyed renewed momentum. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra had turned 100, a world-class Performing Arts District was being built adjacent to the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, and the Élan Circle was introducing a new generation to the arts in Dallas.

Q: What does Élan mean?
A: é·lan: 1. Enthusiastic vigor and liveliness 2. Distinctive style or flair

Q: Who are Élan Circle members?
A: Élan Circle members are women volunteers (under 45) who actively promote the interest of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) within the framework of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League. The members of the Élan Circle believe that they best serve the DSO by offering a variety of community service, educational, and social programs as well as by making direct contributions of their time and resources.

Q: What does Élan Circle do?
A: * Fundraise through two major events: Deck the Hall and Savor the Symphony * Serve members of the DSO community through volunteering. The four Service projects we participate in are: Symphony YES, DSO Season Ticket Renewal, Youth Concerts at the Meyerson, and Fireside Chats.

Q: What is Symphony YES?
A: In 1972 the Élan Circle created Symphony Youth Educational Services (YES), a program designed to bring knowledge of the DSO and symphonic music generally to Dallas area school children. Nationally recognized as a model for this type of program, Symphony YES has been supported by generous grants from many corporations and foundations including Bank of America, King Foundation, Sturgis Foundation, AETNA, Citigroup, Primerica Foundation, GTE, ARCO, and the Harold Simmons Foundation. Each year Symphony YES touches the lives of thousands of students in public and private schools throughout the metroplex.

Q: What are DSO Season Ticket Renewal and Youth Concerts at the Meyerson?
A: These programs represent two of the ways that Élan Circle supports Dallas Symphony Orchestra League projects. The DSO Season Ticket Renewal Campaign provides an opportunity for volunteers to assist the DSO staff in contacting season ticket holders and helping them to renew their ticket packages over the phone. This two-week phone bank brings in over $1,000,000 in ticket renewals each year. The Youth Concert Series at the Meyerson enables 40,000 school children to visit the Meyerson each year for morning concerts. Members of Élan Circle assist DSOL volunteers in ushering school groups to their seats.

Q: What are Fireside Chats?
A: In 1976, Fireside Lectures were established to provide a forum for the introduction and exposure of our members to guest artists and conductors of the Dallas Symphony. The program came to be known as Fireside Chats and has evolved into an informal evening of food and discussion with insight and appreciation gained by all in attendance. The 2-3 Fireside Chats during the year are endeared as fun date nights that provide an inside look at the DSO’s musicians and guest performers in an intimate setting.

Q: What is Deck the Hall?
A: In December 1989, the Élan Circle expanded outreach to children through its first holiday fundraiser in the new Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The event, christened “Deck the Hall,” included a program of holiday music followed by lobby entertainment accenting the cultural diversity of the city through song, dance, music, storytelling and costumed characters. We have expanded it now to include a Breakfast With Santa, holiday crafts, photos with Santa, and refreshments. The Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra has performed at Deck the Hall and, more recently, the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Orchestra has been featured. Deck the Hall has also featured children’s artists such as Eddie Coker and Rebecca Frezza.

Q: What is Savor the Symphony?
A: Savor the Symphony, a Fine Wine Dinner and Auction, is the newest fundraising project and is now in its eighth year. It has earned its place as a favorite event for Élan Circle members as well as Symphony benefactors and fine wine enthusiasts. The Crescent Hotel is hosting this year’s Savor the Symphony gala on March 29, 2008. During the exciting Savor the Symphony season each year, preliminary events are held at luxurious venues such as DeBoulle, William Noble, the Rachofsky House, Milestone Culinary Arts Center, and The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Preview Center.

Q: What other fundraising efforts has the Élan Circle been involved in?
A: The Élan Circle has participated in fundraising projects since 1961. Past projects have included the Face of Dallas Tours, the Helen Corbitt Cooking Schools, Noted Cookery and The Dallas Symphony Cookbook, Symphony Suites – an exclusive collection of Belgium-style chocolates, and Savor the Symphony cooking classes presented by world-famous chefs.

The principal fundraising project for 23 years was the Symphony Run. Founded in 1978, the Run generated well over $1,100,000. Sponsors included Tom Thumb, Lincoln/Mercury, KRLD, Dallas Business Journal, Trammel Crow Company, Ellen Terry, Perrier, Reebok, Hewlett Packard, Anheuser-Busch, The Dallas Morning News, NBC5, 103.7 FM KVIL, Frito Lay, and Pepsi-Cola.

Q: How does the Élan Circle work with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League?
A: The Élan Circle works closely with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, sharing resources and supporting each other’s events. In addition to service and fundraising projects, the Élan Circle has supported the Dallas Symphony through the Volunteer Season Ticket and Annual Fund Campaigns. Together with the other Dallas Symphony Volunteer groups, the Élan Circle endowed the Musicians’ Lounge in the Meyerson and completed a four-year campaign to raise $450,000 for the Principal Keyboard Chair and one annual performance in the Classical Series by a keyboard artist.

Q: How long has the Dallas Symphony Orchestra been in operation?
A: The Dallas Symphony Orchestra began as a 40-member ensemble in 1900. It grew into a world class orchestra under the leadership of great directors including Antal Dorati, Eduardo Mata and Andrew Litton. In September 1989, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center opened and the international press proclaimed the I.M. Pei hall "world-class,rivaling the great concert halls of the world," After a world-wide search, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra welcomes its new music director, Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden, in September 2009.