recognition & AWARDS

The Houston Symphony League has been honored multiple times with North American awards through LAO and Texas state-level awards through TASO.

LAO logo

LAO AWARDS

The League of American Orchestras (LAO) supports and champions orchestras. Its membership encompasses nearly 800-member symphony, chamber, youth and collegiate orchestras in all 50 US states, Canada and 9 other countries. The Volunteer Council of LAO provides support and professional development to volunteer organizations via quarterly publications, the volunteer project database, strategic conversations for Presidents and Presidents Elect, and programming at LAO’s national conference. The Volunteer Council’s Gold Awards of Excellence honors best-in-class programs and initiatives that have significantly impacted their orchestras.

Date is year presented and when the award was bestowed.  Project work is typically the year before. The award names have changed over the years.  The Roundtable is not one that is presented but would be discussed around a table.  These are highly prestigious awards as they represent submissions from North America and LAO usually grants only 7 awards each year.  These awards are presented at the LAO Conference each year, which is held across the nation.

2025

GOLD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | Engaging Membership for Retention

2024

GOLD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | Growing Membership for Impact

GOLD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | Reimagining Auctions

2022

GOLD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | President's Luncheon and Style Show

2020

GOLD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | Lewis Elementary Violin Residency Program

GOLD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | Pop-up Fundraiser

2019

GOLD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | Houston Symphony Ball: The Balinese Room

2018

ROUNDTABLE | Wine Dinner Collector’s Auction

ROUNDTABLE | Reach Out and Touch Someone

2017

ROUNDTABLE | Making Friendships for a Lifetime

2015

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR FUNDRAISING | Centennial Ball

ROUNDTABLE | Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Competition

2014

ROUNDTABLE | Bordeaux on the Bayou

2013

ROUNDTABLE | Improving Communication Strategies

2011

ROUNDTABLE | Children’s Fashion Show

ROUNDTABLE | Music Matters

2005

SILVER RIBBON FOR EDUCATION | Candlelight Ball

2004

SILVER RIBBON FOR EDUCATION | Concerto Competition

2003

SALLY PARKER GOLD RIBBON FOR EDUCATION | Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition

SILVER RIBBON FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS RELATIONS | Operation Welcome

CLASSIC GOLD RIBBON | Docent Program

2002

NOTABLE AWARD FOR FUND-RAISING | Magical Musical Morning

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE FOR EDUCATION | Houston Symphony Speaker’s Bureau

2000

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE  | Maestro Fashion Show and Luncheon

1993

AUBREY BAIRD TICKET SALES AWARD  | Subscription Sales Campaign

FUNDRAISING  | Opening Night Gala: “A Night in the Gardens of Spain”

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE  | Pops: A Sparkling New Season and Classical: The Tickets are Yours for the Asking”

1984

AWARD  | Docent Program

TASO New Logo 2023

TASO AWARDS

The Texas Association for Symphony Orchestras (TASO) is composed of the volunteer support groups of 20 symphony orchestras in the state of Texas.  TASO holds annual conferences for the exchange of ideas for the support and promotion of the orchestras in Texas.

 Date is year presented and when the award was bestowed.  Project work is typically the year before. The award names have changed over the years.  The Roundtable is not one that is presented but would be discussed around a table.

2025

LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Engaging Membership for Retention

FUNDRAISING RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Sip and Stroll

LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Getting Them in the Door

2024

LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Growing Membership for Impact

LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Student Ushers for Student Concerts

FUNDRAISING RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Re-Imagining Auctions - Houston Symphony Ball

LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Games Day

2023

LEADERSHIP/SERVICE RECOGNIZED PROJECT | President's Luncheon/Style Show

FUNDRAISING RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Can't Say No to Cliquot

2022

COMMUNICATION/TECHNOLOGY RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Interface Improvements between the Houston Symphony and Houston Symphony League Websites

FUNDRAISING RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Conversation with an Icon

2021

LEADERSHIP/SERVICE RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Wine101

EDUCATION RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Lewis Elementary Violin Residency Program

FUNDRAISING RECOGNIZED PROJECT | Fundraising Pop-ups

2019

LEADERSHIP | President's Lunch

FUNDRAISING | Houston Symphony Balinese Auction

2018

FUNDRAISING FINALIST | Children's Fashion Show

FUNDRAISING FINALIST | Wine Collector’s Auction

LEADERSHIP | Reach Out and Touch Someone

2017

EDUCATION FINALIST | B# Lunch and Lecture Series

LEADERSHIP/SERVICE FINALIST | Making Friendships for a Lifetime

2015

EDUCATION FINALIST | 2014 Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Competition

LEADERSHIP/SERVICE FINALIST | Symphony 2014 Centennial Ball

2012

SERVICE WINNER | Junior Patrons Program and Celebration

2010

SERVICE - ROUNDTABLE | Non Birthday Lunch

SERVICE WINNER | Notes & Nibbles

2008

SERVICE - COMMENDED | President's Lunch

FUNDRAISING - COMENDED | Ball: "A Touch of Class[ical] and All that Jazz"

FUNDRAISING - COMENDED | Opening Night Gala: Musical Gems of Russia

EDUCATION WINNER | Instrument Petting Zoo

2007

SERVICE/MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WINNER | Docent Training

SERVICE/MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WINNER | Long Range Planning

EDUCATION/DEVELOPMENT WINNER | Ima Hogg Young Artist Competition

FUNDRAISING WINNER | Maestro’s Wine Dinner

2005

FUNDRAISING WINNER | "A Candlelight Gala" 90th Anniversary Ball

2004

SERVICE FINALIST | Houston Symphony Archives

2003

FUNDRAISING WINNER | Unknown Name

SERVICE WINNER | Unknown Name

2002

SERVICE FINALIST | Houston Symphony Speaker's Bureau

2000

SERVICE FINALIST | Orchestra Staff Luncheons

EDUCATION FINALIST | Docent Program

1996

FUNDRAISING FINALIST | Opening Night Gala