Dallas Symphony Orchestra honors long-standing Capital One partnership through concert series naming

The DSO introduces three-year Pops Series Presented by Capital One

In recognition of Capital One’s extraordinary support for community programming and the visionary leadership of Sanjiv Yajnik, Chairman of the Dallas Symphony Association Board of Governors and President of Financial Services at Capital One, the Dallas Symphony proudly introduces the Pops Series Presented by Capital One.

The Pops Series, led by Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik (Dot & Paul Mason Podium), showcases an array of popular music from Nat King Cole to movies-in-concert, attracting even more families and diverse audiences to the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

“We are thankful for the work of Sanjiv and his colleagues at Capital One,” said Kim Noltemy, Ross Perot President & CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. “Their steadfast support of our strategic plan and engagement with the community is planting the seeds for audiences and patrons of the future as well as enriching and changing lives today.”

Capital One’s broad support of the DSO comes through the Capital One Impact Initiative, a commitment to support growth in underserved communities and advance socioeconomic mobility by closing gaps in equity and opportunity. Throughout Capital One’s partnership with the DSO, this has led to deep and enriching opportunities for students across North Texas. From support of instrument and music programs, to providing financial literacy and volunteering at events, Capital One’s investment has advanced the Dallas Symphony’s work to inspire and change lives.

For more than six years, Capital One has partnered with the DSO to invest in critical programs including the Young Strings and Young Musicians programs, getting students and youth ready for the future workforce. These community programs provide musical instruments and free lessons to students across the Metroplex, including Southern Dallas, who would otherwise lack access to music lessons and instruction.

With a 29-year history, Young Strings identifies exceptionally talented string students from underrepresented communities and provides comprehensive musical training: from lessons with DSO musicians to performance opportunities and audition preparation. The curriculum also includes mentorship and life-skills, and as part of those lessons, Capital One has provided Young Strings students with in-depth financial literacy training, networking and other job readiness skills in order to set them up for success. Graduates of Young Strings have gone on to some of the nation’s top conservatories, while others have embarked on careers in arts administration, engineering and finance, bringing the fundamental skills strategies of musical learning with them.

Identifying a need to reach even younger students who lack after-school engagement and learning opportunities, the DSO launched Young Musicians in 2019, kicking off the program with instrument drives and community events throughout Southern Dallas. Young Musicians has already impacted hundreds of children in Southern Dallas and provides 8-12 hours of free, weekly access to instruction of wind, string, brass and percussion instruments for children in first through sixth grade.

Capital One also supports the regular appearances of Symphony Yes! groups at St. Phillips School and Community Center in Southern Dallas. These small ensembles of DSO musicians perform an engaging introduction to the instruments of the orchestra and genres of music. From string quartet to brass quintet, Symphony Yes! musicians provide a unique learning experience that is complementary to traditional curriculum.

In 2019, Capital One partnered with the DSO to launch Full STEAM Ahead, an initiative designed by a small group of senior women business executives from Capital One, AT&T and Texas Instruments, and local Dallas leaders to promote arts education and equal opportunity for girls in the world of science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Prior to the pandemic, Full STEAM Ahead provided a monthly STEAM learning program to students at Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership Academy.

The DSO’s partnership with Capital One was furthered by Yajnik’s involvement. With a strong passion for music and a core belief in its ability to change lives, Yajnik, the President of Financial Services at Capital One, joined the DSA Executive Board in 2015 and was elected Chairman of the Board of Governors in 2017. Yajnik’s leadership recruited Kim Noltemy to the Dallas Symphony in January 2018 and Fabio Luisi as Music Director in June 2018, but one of his most memorable highlights was when he guest conducted the inaugural C-Suite performance and benefit event in December 2019.

“I firmly believe that the arts are the soul of a city and have the ability to unlock innovation for the future,” said Yajnik. “The arts give us unparalleled beauty while teaching essential skills such as discipline, perseverance, team-building and communication.”

The partnership of Capital One and the vision of Sanjiv are a shining example of the true collaboration of business and the arts,” said Noltemy. “We are thankful for their years of support, and we hope it inspires more corporations to share in the success of the DSO.”