Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Top Ten Records Seek Donated Instruments for Southern Dallas

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra can put that violin or trumpet collecting dust in your closet to good use. New and gently used instruments are needed to help launch the DSO?s new residency and education programs in Southern Dallas. ?The ultimate goal is for every child in Southern Dallas to have access to an instrument, lessons, and performances free of charge,? says Kim Noltemy, President & CEO of the Dallas Symphony Association.

To launch the Southern Dallas Residency, the DSO is asking for instruments of all types to share with inexperienced musicians. Each instrument donation will be tax deductible, and the DSO will provide a receipt for each donation. 

In addition to the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Top Ten Records on Jefferson Blvd. in Oak Cliff is an official drop-off location for the project. Top Ten Records, the oldest record store in Dallas (circa 1956), recently re-launched as a non-profit organization, retail shop, and community space in the heart of Oak Cliff. 

Musician Jess Garland has been working with the non-profit to develop and implement music lessons in the shop where she also teaches guitar lessons on Saturday mornings. “Connecting kids with instruments can change the course of their lives,” says Garland who is the newest advisory member for the organization and also supports the DSO’s multi-faceted program.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra offers a number of programs that are targeted to students around the Metroplex including in Dallas ISD and Southern Dallas. These include: the Cecil and Ida Green Youth Concert Series which brings 20,000 students per year to concerts in the Meyerson; DSO Express which organizes a free comprehensive concert experience with related educational activities for high school students from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Dallas; Symphony?Yes!?Which brings interactive music performances by DSO musicians directly to schools; and Young Strings. Young Strings participants are students in grades 2-12 from Dallas neighborhoods where up to 85% of all households are economically disadvantaged.?Read about Kim Noltemy?s great work in PATRON Magazine here.

?This deep and long-term engagement of both education and concert-making will build relationships in the community to get everyone excited about music and the new opportunities that music can provide,? Noltemy emphasized.

If you have an instrument that can be donated to enrich the lives of South Dallas children you can find drop-off information below. Even those without instruments can still provide support, text CELLO to 41444 to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in Southern Dallas. To learn more about the DSO?s Southern Dallas Residency, visit mydso.com. This initiative is funded in part by generous support from Capital One and The Eugene McDermott Foundation.

Drop-Off Location: Top Ten Records, 338 W. Jefferson Blvd Dallas, TX 75208

Business Hours:

Tuesday – Thursday, 12p-9p

Friday – Saturday, 12p-10p

Sunday, 12p-7p

Monday, closed

In addition, instrument owners are invited to drop off their instruments at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora Street, during the DSO?s holiday concerts or Monday through Friday during business hours.

DSO Holiday Concerts at the Meyerson:

Star Wars: A New Hope Movie in Concert ? Dec. 20-22

New Year?s Eve ? Dec. 31