It's a rare accomplishment for a Dallas arts organization, and no, it's not a national award. 

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is shouting the news from the proverbial rooftops: At the conclusion of the 2011-12 season, the DSO has a balanced budget.

It may seem like no big deal to most people, but as Art + Seek columnist Jerome Weeks reminds us, it wasn't too long ago that DSO board chair Blaine Nelson said the orchestra was all but insolvent. And, if you'll recall, the Dallas Opera trimmed a show from their season due to a shortage of funds.

“We are able to announce these important and meaningful financial achievements because of the generosity of new and long-time supporters, the commitment of business and corporate partners, the enthusiasm of music lovers across North Texas, and the hard work of the DSO staff,” said Blaine L. Nelson, Chairman of the DSO Board of Governors. “We still must address significant long-term challenges, but this news shows the New Business Plan has laid strong groundwork towards a stable, secure and sustainable DSO.”

How did they do it? Anonymous donations were definitely a factor, including two large sums. Of course, having a star conductor in Jaap Van Zweden definitley helps draw audiences and ticket sales.

Support for the DSO for the 2011-2012 season includes:

• A recent gift of $1.5 million to the Dallas Symphony Foundation to permanently endow the Linda VanSickle Associate Principal Horn Chair.
• An anonymous bequest of $1.5 million.
• A gift of $2 million from an anonymous donor.
• A previously announced gift of $700,000 from the Texas Instruments (TI) Foundation, which increased to $1 million the annual combined gifts from Texas Instruments Incorporated and the Texas Instruments Foundation.

The DSO’s significant end-of-fiscal-year financial achievements also include:

• Balancing the 2011-2012 budget, eliminating the anticipated deficit of $6.5 million.

• For the first time in several seasons, the DSO exceeded its corporate fund-raising goal of $1.1 million.

• For the first time in several seasons, the DSO exceeded its individual donor goal of $4.3 million.

• The DSO received more than $1 million in support from foundations, exceeding its goal for the third consecutive year.

• The DSO exceeded by nearly $400,000 its initial annual fund goal of $6.1 million.

• The DSO’s 2012-2013 subscription campaign is markedly accelerated compared to prior years, and has generated more $3.5 million in 13 weeks.