With the
soundtrack of an historic musical journey, the setting of a world-class
display of newly commissioned art and the drama of a high-flying cirque
performance, DFW International Airport tonight dedicated its long-awaited
International Terminal D. More than 1600 guests attended the “Symphony of
Flight” black-tie gala celebrating aviation, architecture and the arts. International Terminal D is the first new terminal built at DFW
International Airport since it opened 31 years ago. The terminal will
welcome all of DFW’s international visitors with soaring ceilings,
wide-open spaces, and its $6 million art program comprised of a stunning
collection of paintings, sculptures and floor medallions. The
international terminal will be the largest, most secure airline terminal
built since 9/11, and also features an integrated Grand Hyatt Hotel and
8,100-space parking garage. The terminal is scheduled to open for flights
in July.

“This dedication event reminds us that International Terminal D itself is
a magnificent achievement, in terms of architecture, engineering, design,
construction and art,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport.
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to the thousands who worked to make this
building a reality, and worked through some very tough times to design and
build this marvelous place. Tonight is a tribute to the spirit of
perseverance and accomplishment that so many have contributed for more
than five years.”

The evening gala featured the first-ever joint performance by the Dallas
Symphony Orchestra and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, collaborating to
perform works by legendary American composers George Gershwin and Aaron
Copland and renowned Mexican composer Jose Pablo Moncayo Garcia. The
performance opened with “The Star Spangled Banner” and included “An
American in Paris,” “Fanfare for the Common Man” and “Huapango.” DSO Music
Director Andrew Litton and FWSO Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya shared
the conductor’s baton duties during the historic performance.

“Tonight’s event is a wonderful example of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s
commitment to creating dynamic partnerships and to ensuring that this
great Metroplex is a magnet for great arts and culture,” said Fred
Bronstein, president & CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. “Partnering
with the Fort Worth Symphony for the first time was a century in the
making, but I can promise the next one won’t take 100 years! We’re
grateful that DFW could help facilitate this historic event, and are
honored to be a part of celebrating this landmark new terminal—
something that will only continue to fuel the growing economic base of
this burgeoning region.”

“I am delighted that our two wonderful orchestras are coming together for
the first time to celebrate this special event,” said Katherine E. Akos,
president and CEO of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. “It is very
exciting to be a part of history in the making and especially appropriate
that such an historic concert take place at DFW International Airport,
which is so integral to our joint success. The airport not only brings our
world-renowned guest artists and musicians here, but also the tourism and
business activity that help to keep our economies and cultural arts
thriving.”

The evening began with the dedication of International Terminal D through
the unveiling of the terminal’s central entry hall floor, featuring a Ring
of Honor with the names of mayors, board members, executive staff,
builders and architects involved in the planning, design and
implementation of the terminal.

“To open this great structure, we recognized just 38 individuals and
companies in a Ring of Honor who were involved with the project, but they
represent the more than 12,000 men and women who worked on International
Terminal D,” said Clay Paslay, executive vice president of development for
DFW. “We could probably cover every square inch of this 2
million-square-foot building with the name of an individual who dedicated
part of their lives to this project.”

The terminal is dedicated to the citizens of North Texas and to
international travelers who will soon use the new facility.

“We honor our leaders and the thousands who have brilliantly guided us to
this moment,” said Jeff Wentworth, chairman of the DFW Board of Directors
as he led a champagne toast for the official dedication of International
Terminal D. “May this terminal enjoy great success to benefit our
communities for decades to come!”

The International Terminal D dedication celebration also debuted many of
the artworks contained within the terminal, and the first public viewing
of a newly-created sculpture garden featuring four works on loan from
Dallas’ Nasher Sculpture Center and world renowned art collector Raymond
Nasher, located under the canopy on the terminal’s arrivals level.

An amazing, high-flying cirque-style performance highlighted the evening,
as guests looked up sixty feet in the air to see a virtuoso acrobat
performing in a graceful aerial hoop maneuver. A gravity-defying
trampoline performance featured multiple acrobats flying from trampoline
to wall in amazing precision. Finally an intricate “German Wheel” act
featuring an artist deftly and nonchalantly performing stunts while
contained inside six rings joined into a sphere.
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