San Francisco Symphony

The San Francisco Symphony is an American orchestra founded in 1911 and based at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, its home in the city's Hayes Valley since 1980. Across more than a century it has been led by twelve music directors, among them Pierre Monteux, Seiji Ozawa, Michael Tilson Thomas and, most recently, Esa-Pekka Salonen, with Elim Chan designated to take the podium in 2027. The ensemble has won multiple Grammy Awards, including for its recordings of Mahler symphonies, and shared a 2001 Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance with Metallica for 'The Call of Ktulu.' Regarded as one of the finest orchestras in the United States, it tours extensively across Europe and Asia and records for its own SFS Media label.