SALT LAKE CITY — Seventy-five years ago, a community orchestra was born. Those musicians had big dreams that led to the now internationally recognized Utah Symphony.

And there is actually another reason to celebrate with the newly renovated plaza in front of Abravanel Hall, which has been under construction through the summer. Now there are green spaces and walkways, which will be heated during winter months, leading visitors to the beautiful concert hall. The windows reflect the city which points to the important relationship the Utah Symphony has had and still has with the community.

Maestro Thierry Fischer and the musicians completed their final rehearsal to kick off a two-week, four-concert Beethoven festival tonight. The maestro says the anniversary symbolizes collective hard work.

"It's our wonderful staff and the board and the wonderful support we got from the community" that lead to the hall's success, Fischer said.

The maestro joined Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams and other community leaders and orchestra representatives for the ribbon-cutting ceremony this week to open the newly renovated plaza.

Eightyfive full-time professional musicians perform 175 concerts a year. What began as a community orchestra in 1940 achieved national recognition under Abravanel, music director for 32 years.

In 1983, he said, "That's exactly what I wanted to see, where I could, myself, mold an orchestra into being a good orchestra."

During his tenure, the orchestra traveled on four international tours, released over 100 recordings and developed an extensive music education program, influencing generations.

The Utah Symphony has performed in some of the most prestigious concert halls in the world. In 1979, the musicians received the gift of a permanent home, appropriately named Abravanel Hall.

The beauty of the hall and its state-of-the-art acoustics, which has attracted top musicians over the years.

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September opening set for Abravanel Hall plaza

After a handful of setbacks caused three months of delays, construction of the redesigned Abravanel Hall plaza is in its final stages. (Photo: Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)

Assistant concertmaster David Park wanted to become a musician here as a student in California.

"Maurice Abravanel, he was a pioneer here," Park said. "And I came here mainly because of him. And I read about the history of the Utah Symphony as a student. I had a friend, who was a concert pianist, who soloed with this orchestra. And she came back and said, 'Wow, what a wonderful orchestra. And everybody was so nice and so supportive. I can see you one of these days, I can see you actually playing there.' And about three, four years later, that came true. What a wonderful story and I'm so excited to be here, especially now; it's an exciting time again."

Joseph Silverstein became music director in 1983. A dozen recordings and a European tour are part of his legacy.

In 1985, he said, "If I do my job as a music director, conduct the music well, rehearse the music well, choose the music well and keep the morale of my players high, the seats in Symphony Hall will be filled."

Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart became music director in January of 1998.

At his first news conference, he said, "I think we have here one of the great orchestral legacies in this country."

He is credited with attracting top-flight musicians, creating the Deer Valley Music Festival and leading the orchestra during the Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Over the years, there were musicians' strikes, and the orchestra, more than once, struggled with financial shortages. As a solution, Lockhart and Anne Ewers helped merge the Utah Symphony and Opera in July of 2002.

In 2009, Fischer became the seventh music director.

"When you travel around, even in America, not many… not many orchestras are lucky as to have such a fantastic hall, a way of developing my imagination with this community, with this orchestra, with this organization," Fischer said. "It gave me some sort of natural courage and made me really look forward to starting."

Now he leads the orchestra into a new era.

"I hope that this anniversary is not an end but a step, a galvanizing step to help us continue to grow," he said.

A Mahler recording was recently released, and there are plans for more recordings. The orchestra will also continue its education program in Utah schools and perform in Carnegie Hall in 2016.

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